BEFORE APPLYING
Before you apply, please thoroughly research the UW iSchool and the MSIM program. Accordingly, you should be familiar with the vision, mission and values of the iSchool and have a general understanding of the academic design of the MSIM program, including its curriculum and specializations. Please be sure to use this foundational knowledge as the basis for responding to the prompts on the application. If you have questions or need help applying, don’t hesitate to contact us.
CONTACT INFORMATION
KEY DEADLINES
*A complete application is required for scholarship consideration by the deadlines above.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
- All applicants must have a bachelor's degree or higher in any discipline (must be equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution).
- Submitting official GRE (or GMAT) scores is required. Applicants meeting at least one of the following criteria are exempt from this requirement:
- Applying to the Mid-Career degree option.
- Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States. (Learn more about accreditation and how to confirm if your institution is regionally accredited on the UW Graduate School’s site.)
- Non-native English speakers must fulfill the UW English language proficiency requirements.
- Mid-Career applicants must show five years of relevant professional experience.
- The UW Graduate School has a minimum GPA requirement. As detailed on their websites, individual programs may consider qualified applicants with a GPA below a 3.0. Applicants with a lower GPA may want to provide additional information in the Extenuating Circumstances part of the application.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Your Statement of Purpose is a very important part of your application. It should be a well-written and carefully crafted essay that is 900-1,200 words in length (graphics can be included but are not required). Consider utilizing a resource to check for grammar and spelling errors. It is required that you address the following two critical questions:
Explain why you choose to pursue an MSIM degree? Please explain what information management area(s) of study interest you and how they meet your career aspirations. Include your personal motivation, professional and academic goals in pursuing the MSIM degree, and your previous experience as it relates to the MSIM program.
How does the MSIM program at the UW iSchool align with your values and personal mission? How will you contribute to the MSIM and iSchool community? Please discuss how you align with and will contribute to the Mission & Vision of the iSchool as it relates to leadership, equity, inclusion, innovation, and service. Tell us your story; the life opportunities and challenges you have faced and how these experiences have shaped you.
INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
International students are welcome and eligible to apply! An international student is defined as any person who is not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident and who requires a visa to be in the U.S., including individuals who have visas with the designation F1, J1, H4, etc. International students wishing to study online are not eligible for a U.S. student visa.
There are no separate application requirements or procedures for international applicants. Please follow the same application process and submit the same materials as instructed.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Review and/or consideration of incomplete applications or late materials is at the discretion of the MSIM admissions committee. If application materials are missing due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the committee will take that into consideration and make its judgment based on the information available.
All application materials must be submitted online or electronically. Please do not mail paper application materials to the iSchool.
This page describes the process for online program applications. Residential applicants should follow the instructions on our on-campus MSIM Admissions Page to apply through MyGrad.
TUITION
The MSIM program is a self-sustaining/fee-based program. Tuition is charged on a per credit basis directly to the student. The University of Washington reserves the right to change tuition and fees without prior notice, and tuition is expected to increase in the future. Note that the cost of the MSIM program is the same for both Washington state residents and non-residents regardless of their degree option or mode of delivery (online/residential). MSIM students are eligible to receive financial aid to help cover the cost of tuition.
TUITION COSTS
The MSIM online program offers three options to suit your experience, needs, and career trajectory: Early-Career, Early-Career Accelerated, and Mid-Career.
Rates for Incoming Students for Autumn 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2022, and Summer 2022 Terms:
- Cost per credit: $923
- (Cost per credit for students who enrolled prior to Autumn 2021: $902)
- MSIM Early-Career Track (65 credits): $59,995
- MSIM Early-Career Accelerated Track (40 credits): $36,920
- MSIM Mid-Career Track (36 credits): $33,228
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- There are no separate rates for in-state and out-of-state tuition.
- Tuition is based on the number of credits taken. Students who choose to take more credits than the number needed for the degree will pay more than the total amount listed.
- There may be a tuition increase of 1-3% in academic year 22-23 and beyond.
- In addition to tuition, fee-based degree students pay required student fees that include a $55 registration fee each quarter and a $250 non-refundable deposit upon acceptance of the offer of admission. Some courses may have additional costs for course materials such as textbooks, articles, or software. Student fees assessed for the previous academic year can be reviewed here. Fees may increase annually.
MSIM SCHOLARSHIPS
All students who apply to the MSIM program during the first two rounds of application reviews will be considered for merit-based scholarships, also called the Dean’s Scholarship. There is no additional application for these scholarships; the MSIM program application will act as your scholarship application.
Additionally, the MSIM program offers a Supplemental Award that students can apply for in a separate section of the regular application. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must have completed their application by the second deadline for the term they are applying. Particularly meritorious students may be able to receive both a merit-based and a Supplemental Award. Funding is extremely limited and is not guaranteed to any individuals. MSIM Supplemental Awards will be given for one term and will not exceed $3,000. We will notify all applicants who follow the process as soon as a decision is made.
This process is separate from federal financial aid, for which students should also apply.
MSIM SUPPLEMENTAL AWARDS DEADLINES
| Quarter Start | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer 2021 | April 15, 2021 |
| Autumn 2021 | July 1, 2021 |
| Winter 2022 | October 21, 2021 |
| Spring 2022 | January 13, 2022 |
WHY IS AN MSIM A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT?
Thanks to a cutting-edge curriculum that reflects the most current challenges and trends in the information management industry, MSIM students can immediately apply classroom lessons to their current work and often learn strategies that their employers have not yet implemented or discovered. MSIM graduates are leaders in the field and highly sought-after employees who can spur actionable change in their organizations.
Learn More About MSIM Student OutcomesOFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID
The structure of financial aid, scholarships and other forms of educational support for graduate students works differently from what you experienced as an undergraduate. The good news: Aid is available for graduate school. The challenge: You need to be more proactive in researching the types of funds available and searching through a variety of funding sources.
Learn more about the sources available to help fund your education:
HELPFUL TIPS FOR FINDING FINANCIAL AID
Navigating the financial challenges of a master’s degree can often be as challenging as the degree itself. Here are some tips on how to better prepare for the cost of your degree:
Don’t wait.
Don’t wait until you are admitted to search and apply for funding. Scholarship deadlines tend to be in mid-winter. You may not have your admissions decision by the time deadlines occur.
Do your research.
Look for funding that will match your specific goals, background and interests.
Ask for an adjustment.
Financial aid for the first year is based on your income from the previous year. Students are eligible for financial aid with as few as 5 credit hours per term. When your employment status changes, inform UW Financial Aid of your current income. Also, let the office know if you need to buy any items (such as a new computer) to support your studies. These items can also help increase your financial aid.
Submit the FAFSA.
Most loans are based on the FAFSA, as are some scholarships. The priority deadline to submit the FAFSA for the UW iSchool is Jan. 15 each year.