UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA: 2026-2027 deadlines and requirements
Key facts
| Program | Full-Time MBA |
|---|---|
| City | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Rank | #21 (tie) in U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools |
| Class size | 206 students in the Class of 2027 |
| GMAT score | Average 652 on the GMAT Focus Edition for the Class of 2027 |
| GRE | Average 319 for the Class of 2027 (middle 80 percent: 304 to 332) |
| Tests it takes | Takes the GMAT and the GRE with no preference, in person or online. It does not mix the best sections from different test dates. You can report scores yourself on the application, and official scores are needed after you are admitted. New applicants can ask for a test waiver inside the application by September 9, 2026 (Round 1), December 9, 2026 (Round 2), February 10, 2027 (Round 3) or April 7, 2027 (Round 4). Strong results on the Executive Assessment, PCAT or MCAT can also support a waiver. |
| Application fee | $150, not refundable. The fee is waived for people who serve or served in the U.S. military, who are in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Teach for America, who are in Forté MBA Launch, who are Management Leadership for Tomorrow fellows, or who are Access members or fellows. There are no fee waivers for Consortium applications. |
| Tuition | For 2026-2027 the school estimates tuition and mandatory fees at $55,470 a year for North Carolina residents and $74,192 for others. With living costs the total is $84,890 and $103,612 a year. The price is not final until the state budget is approved. |
| English test | Required if English is not your native language, unless you earned a degree at a U.S. college or your schooling was fully in English in an English-speaking country. Minimum total scores: TOEFL 5 (on the 1 to 6 scale TOEFL uses since January 2026), IELTS 7.0, PTE 68, Duolingo 120. Preferred speaking scores: TOEFL 5, IELTS 7.5, PTE 65. |
Application rounds
| Round | Apply by | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | December 9, 2026. Deposit due February 10, 2027. |
| Round 2 | January 6, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | March 10, 2027. Deposit due April 14, 2027. |
| Round 3 (last round for international applicants) | March 3, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | April 21, 2027. Deposit due May 12, 2027. |
| Round 4 | April 21, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | May 19, 2027. Deposit due June 9, 2027. |
| Consortium Round 1 (apply through The Consortium) | October 15, 2026 | On the same date as the regular round |
| Consortium Round 2 (apply through The Consortium) | January 5, 2027 | On the same date as the regular round |
Essays
- 250 words. We value the different paths and aspirations that each student brings to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Please share your goals for pursuing an MBA, or the path you’re considering, and how they reflect your unique background or perspective.
- 250 words. UNC Kenan-Flagler is guided by four core values that shape who we are: impact, innovation, inclusion, and integrity. Which one of these Core Values resonates most deeply with your professional journey? Please share an example that demonstrates how this value has influenced your actions or decisions.
- Optional, 250 words. We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.
- 100 words, only for previous applicants. For people who applied before to any UNC MBA program: describe how your application differs from your previous submission and alert us to new test scores, a recent promotion or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.
Recommendations
1 professional letter, preferably from a current or former supervisor. Without full-time work experience, a part-time job or internship letter is accepted, but not an academic one. The school uses the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation. Letters may arrive up to 10 business days late, which slows your review.
Interview
Required, by invitation after you submit a complete application. About 30 minutes with an Admissions Team member, in person or by webcam, and the school has no format preference. An invitation can come any time up to decision day. You may also sign up for a campus interview in September and October.
Other parts of the application
A video essay of two questions in two minutes total, with 20 seconds to prepare and two tries. A resume of one page, two at most. Transcripts from every school where you took a course. Optional Vetter Dean’s Fellows application with 3 essays of 150 words each. Students enter with about 5 years of work experience on average. You should know financial accounting, statistics, economics and calculus.
Links
Sources
- Kenan-Flagler: Full-Time MBA Apply, read November 1, 2026
- Kenan-Flagler: Requirements and Deadlines, read November 1, 2026
- Kenan-Flagler: Interviews, read November 1, 2026
- Kenan-Flagler: Tuition and Financial Aid, read November 1, 2026
- Kenan-Flagler: Full-Time MBA Class Profile, read November 1, 2026
- Campus photo: DP08 at en.wikipedia., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
