TUITION & FINANCIAL AID

The total tuition for the program (as of the July 2023 – June 2024 academic year) is $125,589.06.

Regardless of chosen program duration, students can expect to pay at least that much for the entirety of the 62-credit program.

Note that tuition is subject to change each academic year, as approved by the UNC System Board of Governors, and any tuition change is applicable to all enrolled students. Subject to final approval from NC General Assembly.

Admitted applicants will be required to submit a $1,500 non-refundable enrollment deposit to reserve a space in the program. Enrollment deposits will be applied as a credit toward the first quarter’s tuition once the student enrolls in the program.

The Only Online MBA Program with Tar Heel ROI

Financing Your MBA Program

When evaluating how to pay for a master’s degree program, students often explore a number of resources, including tuition assistance from employers, scholarships and student loan programs. In the section below, we’ve outlined some financing options that students may be eligible to apply for.

Students in the MBA@UNC program are not eligible for The University of North Carolina System Tuition Waiver Program.

  • Several professional organizations offer scholarships for MBA students. Get more information on MBA scholarship programs.

  • MBA@UNC awards a limited number of partial-tuition fellowships to admitted applicants who have demonstrated excellence in many areas of their applications. No additional application is required for fellowship consideration; every applicant is automatically considered for fellowships. The number of fellowships granted and the monetary award amounts may vary each year. Students in the online MBA program are not eligible for The University of North Carolina System Tuition Waiver Program.

    UNC Kenan-Flagler participates in the Forté Fellowship Program. The Forté Foundation is an organization of top business schools and corporations seeking to increase the number of women in business. Each year, the admissions committee selects a number of Forté Fellows based on exemplary leadership and achievement. No separate application is required for consideration. In addition to financial support, Forté Fellows have access to a variety of unique benefits such as:

    • Exposure to leading companies, and an extensive network of peers across other business schools and organizations;
    • Connections to an online networking community specifically for Forté Fellows and alumni;
    • Special invitations for job openings and leadership programs at Forté partner companies; and
    • Access to Forté Women Lead Webinars (and on-demand recordings), which cover career, professional and leadership development topics.
  • Students should check with their employers’ personnel or human resources division regarding tuition. Many employers offer tuition benefits, including tuition reimbursement and low-cost loans. Gaining financial support from an employer can be a tremendous asset in funding an MBA program.

    While every organization’s policies on educational support vary, we have assembled an employer support resource guide with some tips and strategies for determining whom to approach, framing the conversation, providing contextual evidence and negotiating financial aid terms.

    Download the Employer Sponsorship resource guide here (PDF, 928KB).

  • To begin the process of applying for eligible military education benefits, visit the VA site and complete the Education Benefits Application Process.

    UNC-Chapel Hill is approved by the Veterans Administration as a training facility for students receiving military education benefits. Once you are deemed eligible to receive military education benefits, and are admitted to the program and registered for classes, you must complete and submit the MBA@UNC Veterans Enrollment Form (PDF) in order to receive VA benefits for the MBA@UNC Program.

    UNC Kenan-Flagler has a VA Certifying Official dedicated to the review of veterans benefits enrollment for MBA@UNC students, and we’ve compiled a list of resources and helpful tips to help guide students through the process. Visit our MBA@UNC Veterans Benefits page for more information.

  • To apply for federal loan programs, start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The University of North Carolina school code is 002974.

    You will also need to complete the steps listed on the Financial Aid Checklist.

    Upon completion of the FAFSA, students may be eligible for the following federal student loans:

    • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Graduate students are potentially eligible to receive up to $20,500 per academic year.
    • Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: This credit-based loan can be used in addition to the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. It provides additional loan funds to cover tuition and other personal or living expenses, up to the cost of attendance, per academic year. The Graduate PLUS Loan requires an additional application and can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

    You can also learn more about the federal government’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

    Our Financial Aid team is always happy to answer your questions about tuition and financial aid. You can reach out via email to onlinefinaid@unc.edu or by phone at 919-962-0135. You can also find more information on types of funding, student loans and financial aid tips on our FAQs page.

  • Some student loan lenders offer private loans to international students that may or may not require a U.S. co-signer. Additional information is available under Full-Time MBA Private Education Loans (may or may not require co-signer).

Applying for Financial Aid

Students who intend to apply for financial aid should begin the process as soon as possible. We encourage students to apply for financial aid at the same time they complete the MBA@UNC application. To apply, complete these steps:

1.  Visit the FAFSA site and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The University of North Carolina school code is 002974.

The FAFSA must be completed each academic year in order to remain eligible for federal student aid. Please reference the chart below to determine which FAFSA to complete based on your desired start date.

FAFSA deadlines based on cohort start

StartQuarterFAFSA Year
January 2024
Winter 2024
2023-2024
April 2024
Spring 2024
2023-2024
July 2024
Summer 2024
2024-2025
October 2024
Fall 2024
2024-2025
January 2025
Winter 2025
2024-2025
April 2025
Spring 2025
2024-2025
July 2025
Summer 2025
2025-2026
October 2025
Fall 2025
2025-2026

2.  Complete your application for admission to the program.

Students can apply for federal student aid if they meet certain criteria established by the university and the Department of Education. Read through the following information before beginning the financial aid process.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive federal student aid, students must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • Have a valid Social Security Number
  • Be registered with Selective Service (Males must register between ages 18–25.)
  • Be admitted to the MBA@UNC program and accept their admit offer
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program (at least 4.5 credits)
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • Not currently be in default on previous federal loans borrowed through FSA
  • Not have exceeded the maximum aggregate loan limit
  • Check the status of prior federal loans on the Studentaid.gov website

To learn more about financial aid options for MBA@UNC students, read the Tuition and Financial Aid FAQs or reach out to our Financial Aid team at onlinefinaid@unc.edu or by phone at 919-962-0135.

You can also find more information on types of funding, student loans and financial aid tips on our FAQs page.

Payment Options

UNC offers several options for students to make a payment towards tuition. See all payment methods.

Get Started Now

If you are ready to learn more about the #3–ranked online MBA program, as ranked in 2024 by U.S. News & World Report1, download our brochure now.

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