Skip to main content
    GradsMatch
    Back to Programs
    University of Massachusetts-Amherst

    Political Science (MA)

    Last verified against the official program page on .

    Amherst, USMAIn-person2 years
    $71,452.00
    Tuition
    over 24mo
    20%
    Acceptance
    of applicants
    10
    Cohort
    students
    $85.00
    App fee

    Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a 2-year, in-person MA program based in Amherst, US. Tuition is $71,452.

    About the program

    Covers fields including American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, public law, and methods. Encourages interdisciplinary research across subfields with diverse methodological training.

    Focus: both
    US News #52

    Your fit

    Match

    Pro users see a 0 to 100 match score personalized to their academic profile, plus a per-component breakdown (major, GPA, tests, work experience, and more).

    Admissions

    Pro

    Unlock full admissions requirements

    GPA thresholds, GRE/TOEFL/IELTS minimums, essay counts, recommendation letters, prerequisites, admissions contacts, and country-specific requirements like APS certification, portfolio submissions, or GATE scores.

    Sign up for 7-day free trial

    Deadlines

    Fall 2027
    Dec 15, 2026

    Standardized tests

    GRE
    optional
    Min GRE requirement is waived for Fall 2025 admission
    TOEFL
    required
    Min For tests taken prior to January 2026, a minimum combined score of 80 (Graduate School minimum)
    IELTS
    required
    Min Minimum combined score of 6.5 (Graduate School minimum)

    After the program

    Post-study work rights

    12 months OPT (US)

    $30,000.00
    Annual living cost

    Application Checklist

    Sign in to track what you need to submit for this program.

    Sign in
    See admits on GradCafe
    Self-reported profiles of past applicants to this program.

    Prerequisites

    Specific coursework this program expects you to have completed: calculus, linear algebra, programming, statistics, and subject-specific prerequisites where applicable.

    Recommendations

    Exact count of letters required, whether academic vs professional references are preferred, and any program-specific guidance on who to ask.

    Essays

    Number of essays required (statement of purpose, personal statement, diversity statement), prompts where the program publishes them, and whether supplemental essays are optional or mandatory.

    Contact

    Direct email and phone for the admissions office handling this program, plus a link to the program-specific inquiry page where available.

    Frequently asked questions

    How much does Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst cost?
    The total estimated tuition for Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst is $71,452.
    Is Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst online or in-person?
    Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst is offered in-person.
    How long does Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst take to complete?
    Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst is structured around 2 years.
    What GPA is required for Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
    Per the program's published guidance: minimum GPA of 3.5
    How competitive is Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
    Political Science (MA) at University of Massachusetts-Amherst reports an acceptance rate of approximately 20%.