The use of standardized examinations as a factor in admission decisions in Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs is a customary practice at many universities. Aptitude testing of pre-service, recent baccalaureate recipients is a means of assessing continued academic success in a graduate program. However, we contend, a growing diversity in an applicant pool, which includes large numbers of mid-career, working professionals, demands admissions criteria that also recognizes professional experience as a possible indicator of future academic performance as well. This research examines the student records, over a seven-year period, at a NASPAA-accredited MPA program that has implemented a waiver policy for qualified in-service applicants to see if students with waivers fare any differently in the program than students who submit standardized aptitude test scores. The findings show that students with waivers have slightly higher grade point averages than their non-waiver counterparts, indicating that the absence of standardized test scores for a specified applicant profile does not compromise overall student quality. In fact, it demonstrates the need for greater flexibility in what is required in an admissions application. (Contains 3 tables.)