GSPIA is proud to partner with several of the country’s leading public service organizations, and to recognize those who serve the greater good, with special incentives for applicants and students.
Discount for Government Employees
MPPM students who enroll at GSPIA while working full-time for a local, county, state, or federal government agency (excluding private-sector government contractors) receive a 20% tuition discount. Active-duty military personnel are eligible for the discount if they are not already receiving military tuition benefits. Only students in the mid-career MPPM program (on campus and online) are eligible.
Application Fee Waivers
In recognition of their service to the country and their accomplishments, GSPIA waives its $50 application fee for these students:
- Veterans of the US armed forces
- Active-duty military personnel
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
- AmeriCorps Volunteers and volunteers from AmeriCorps-affiliated programs
- City Year Volunteers
- Truman Scholars
- Pickering Fellows
- Coro Fellows
- McNair Fellows
- Rangel Fellows
- USAID Payne Fellows
- Catholic Volunteer Network alumni
- Jesuit Volunteer Network alumni
- PULSE (Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience) alumni
- Repair the World volunteers/alumni
When applying to GSPIA, these students should contact GSPIA at 412-648-7640 or gspia@pitt.edu before submitting their application to request details about the waiver.
Special Academic Partnerships and Scholarship Guarantees
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program. All RPCVs who are successfully admitted are automatically considered for a minimum 25% renewable scholarship, if they earned at least a 3.4 undergraduate GPA and enroll full-time in the MPA, MID, or MPIA programs. Students who receive the scholarship are designated as “Coverdell Fellows” and, like all fellows in this nationwide program, are asked to complete an internship serving the community. Up to 6 Coverdell Fellows can be named every year.
AmeriCorps Segal Ed Award Match. GSPIA provides a 100% scholarship match for up to five Segal AmeriCorps Education Award recipients each year. All AmeriCorps alumni are automatically considered for this special scholarship if they plan to enroll full-time; no separate application is necessary. Simply indicate your status as an AmeriCorps alum on the application for admission. This is a minimum scholarship; the actual amount may be higher, and it may be combined with other scholarships from the school.
Early Assurance Partnerships. GSPIA sponsors early assurance partnerships with several colleges and universities. Undergraduate students at these institutions are eligible to apply to GSPIA a year early, as college juniors, and receive conditional admission (with a scholarship guarantee) pending their completion of a bachelor's degree. Interested students should contact GSPIA for further information. Partner institutions include Carlow University, Chatham University, Duquesne University, Juniata College, Mercyhurst University, Saint Vincent College, Seton Hill University, and Thiel College.
USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Fellows. GSPIA provides a scholarship sufficient to cover the remainder of a student’s tuition after the Payne Fellowship has been applied. The scholarship is renewable for a second year based on academic performance.
Thomas M. Pickering Fellows. GSPIA provides a scholarship to cover Pickering Fellows’ full tuition during the second year of study, after the Pickering Fellowship covers tuition for the first year.
City Year Alumni University Partnership (City Year National Service Scholars Program). City Year corps, alumni, or staff members are eligible for a GSPIA scholarship equal to at least 25% of tuition if admitted and enrolled full-time. Up to four such scholarships are awarded each year. Corps alumni with at least one year of service and staff members employed for at least two years will be considered for this scholarship if they self-identify on their applications.
Coro Fellows. Current Coro Fellows based in Coro’s Pittsburgh office are eligible to receive a minimum $5,000/year renewable scholarship if admitted and enrolled full-time. Coro Fellows and employees from any Coro office nationwide receive an application fee waiver.
Catholic Volunteer Network Alumni
All Catholic Volunteer Network alumni qualify for an application fee waiver. Alumni of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and Notre Dame Mission Volunteers (NDMV) will be considered a minimum renewable scholarship award of $5,000 per year if they enroll full-time. Up to five scholarship awards can be offered to qualified alumni of the JVC and NDMV programs each year.
Repair the World Fellows
All Repair the World Fellows qualify for an application fee waiver and will be considered for a renewable scholarship of at least $5,000 per year if they are admitted and enroll full time. Up to five awards can be offered to qualified students each year.
PULSE
Fellows and alumni of PULSE (Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience) qualify for an application fee waiver and will be considered for a renewable scholarship of at least $5,000 per year if they are admitted and enroll full-time. Up to five awards can be offered to qualified students every year.