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Contact Georgina Hannah with any questions. Profile updated: August 28, 2023.

University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School

MBA Program Stats

Annual Tuition: $53,552

Annual Tuition Non-Resident: $71,364

Acceptance Rate: 38%

Full-Time Enrollment: 495

Average GPA: 3.42

Median GMAT: 696

Median GRE: 319

International: 34%

Minority: 26%

Female: 33%

Male: 67%

Average Age: 28

What You Need To Know

Think leadership when considering the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler MBA degree. The B-School sits in the town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which is known to be both beautiful and diverse, with its Research Triangle Park – just a half hour from campus.

The Research Triangle Park serves as a hub for a wide spectrum of innovations spanning FinTech, Quantum Computing, Life Sciences, Aerospace, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence. With over 55,000 employees and 300 companies under its roof, it notably hosts industry leaders like Cisco and GlaxoSmithKline. Thanks to its proximity, UNC Kenan-Flagler has established valuable partnerships and alumni networks, offering MBA candidates valuable exposure to cutting-edge enterprises and practices.

Many Kenan-Flagler MBAs feel connected and like they belong well before the program kicks off.

“During orientation, peers I’d only known for a few hours were already coordinating study groups, offering their cars to help others carpool to the McColl Building, and helping newly arrived international students acclimate to life in Chapel Hill. I’m proud to be a part of this encouraging, collaborative community,” says MBA Aidan McConnell.

Academics And Programs

Alongside a class of 250 students on average, students will take core foundational business courses their first semester to help them gain an understanding of business fundamentals, analytical expertise, leadership concepts, and decision-making frameworks. A substantial portion of the second half of the first year and the entire second year are devoted to elective courses, where students take courses that align with their career interests.

The breadth of electives allows students to tailor their education to focus on specific career goals. They can select from thirteen concentrations to customize their academic plans and deepen their expertise, for example Capital Markets and Investments, Consulting, Energy, Marketing, Sustainable Enterprise, and the ever-popular Healthcare concentration. Their Real Estate concentration is also one of the largest in the country, with on the ground experiences built in.

Students can benefit from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s STEM-designated program, which integrates data and analytical concepts into the flexible curriculum, preparing students with the modern decision-making skills employers seek. Additionally, students are exposed to hands-on experiences through opportunities such as Global Immersion Electives (GIEs) and the STAR (Student Teams Achieving Results) Consulting Program; an experiential consulting experience in a for-credit course where student teams work as consultants to solve real, complex business issues for companies, many of which recruit and employ UNC Kenan-Flagler students.

Students make the most of their MBA through co-curricular activities like Applied Investment Management; working with other students to manage investment funds, pitch competitions, venture capital investment competitions, and many student-led professional clubs and conferences.

“Almost everyone I’ve met at UNC Kenan-Flagler, from recently graduated alumni to our dean, talks about how their school experiences acted as a springboard to a more fulfilling life, both personally and professionally. When applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler, it’s important to think about how you want to use this springboard: Do you want to accelerate your current career trajectory or pivot to a new pursuit? How does a two-year full-time MBA align with your existing obligations to your family, your community, or your work? Does your life vision match with the Carolina Way culture? Once you answer these fundamentals, it will be much easier to craft a compelling application and identify how your MBA experience can leave positive impacts throughout your life journey,” says McConnell

Why Students Chose

“I was drawn to UNC Kenan-Flagler because of their healthcare concentration. The breadth of course choices enable students to explore various dimensions of healthcare ranging from medical entrepreneurship to international immersion electives.” Alexis Flen (‘24)

“The balance between academics and real-world experiences immediately attracted me to UNC Kenan-Flagler. I’m particularly excited to test my knowledge and skills during the STAR Program by providing innovative, effective, and sustainable recommendations for corporate partners in a real-world setting.” Carlos L. Pérez-De La Rosa (‘24)

“Personally, what I love the most about UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program is their STEM-designated curriculum and its collaborative and diverse learning environment. There are over 125 electives and 12 concentrations that allow you to customize your education based on your career goals. This was so important to me since I am interested in a variety of subjects and having the flexibility to combine challenging courses and my passion all at once. Also, I was really impressed by their continued career support and faculty who are world-class researchers and expert teachers.” Irasema González-Gutiérrez (‘24) 

“The rigorous healthcare aspect of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program was very important to me. My passion about healthcare has been a constant throughout my life, as my dad suffered from several life altering health issues. While I quickly realized that I could not save lives, I could indirectly help different components within the system through consulting. The doctors, nurses and specialists who gave him a fighting chance were the driving factor in my decision to specialize within the healthcare industry. The healthcare concentration at UNC Kenan-Flagler offers a clearer view of the operational challenges that healthcare providers and payers face from a U.S. and global perspective. This will strengthen my healthcare subject matter expertise and allow me to grow in my career as a healthcare consultant.” Lindsay Buchler (‘24)

“UNC Kenan-Flagler recently made its well-known pre-MBA course Analytical Skills Workshop (ASW) free for all incoming students (previously priced at $5000). It is now called the Business & Math Foundations. This pre-MBA summer program covers finance, financial accounting, probability and statistics, and business math. The foundation course made me more confident about the program and showed me how the curriculum is carefully designed to help us even before the MBA starts. It is a great way to refresh your skills and bolster your knowledge of these concepts in an intensive, self-paced two-month pre-MBA program.” Abdur Rahman (‘24)

Career Stats

Compensation Of Kenan-Flagler’s Graduate MBAs

Compensation   Statistics 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Median Base Salary $ 130,000 $ 125,000 $ 125,000 $ 125,000 $ 120,000
Median Signing Bonus $ 30,000 $ 30,000 $ 26,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000

Industry Choices Of Kenan-Flagler’s Graduate MBAs

Industry 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Consulting 24% 18% 16% 17% 15%
Consumer Packaged Goods 2% 7% 4% 4% 4%
Energy 4% 4% 5% 5% 6%
Financial Services 23% 23% 19% 20% 20%
Healthcare 10% 15% 13% 11% 9%
Transportation/Logistics 2%
Manufacturing 1% 2% 2%
Other 6% 6% 7% 6% 9%
Real Estate 15% 7% 11% 12% 11%
Retail 2% 3% 3% 4%
Technology 14% 19% 18% 21% 21%

Employment Offers Of Kenan-Flagler Graduate MBA

Job Offers 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
% of MBAs with job offer 3 months   post-graduation 96% 93% 86% 88% 94%

Admissions For Kenan-Flagler

Essay Questions For Kenan-Flagler

The B-School asks that prospective MBAs respond to two required essay questions and one optional question. Your responses should be concise, clear, and introspective as we’ll use them to learn more about you, your motivations, and your aspirations.

Essay 1 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

  • What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
  • As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Essay 2 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Essay 3 is optional. They encourage you to tell them 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. Your response should be no longer than 200 words.

Optional topics:

  • Personal or professional accomplishments
  • Interests and passions
  • Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
  • Context for recommender selection
  • A fun fact about yourself

Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any UNC MBA program format. Your response should be no longer than 100 words and should address the following prompt:

If you are reapplying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.

Student Features For Kenan-Flagler

Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2024

A class that personifies the "Carolina Way"

Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2023

A team learning to play hard, smart, and together

Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2022

A big increase in applicants leads to one of the largest incoming MBA classes ever

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Taylor Jackson, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“An energetic and hardworking overachiever who puts their energy towards caring deeply for others”

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Kevin Tareq Ortiz Perez, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Enthusiastic first-generation college student aspiring to be a positive force in the lives of others”

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Paige Smith, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Six-foot-one Tar Heel committed to developing the potential of others”

2023 Best & Brightest MBA: Nicholas Heyward, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

"He exemplifies what it means to be an intellectual and an ally”

2023 Best & Brightest Online MBA: Ketan Rahangdale, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“I believe music has the power to unite all, and everyone has social capital”

2022 Best & Brightest Online MBA: Paul Cornwell, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“A curious and versatile problem solver with varied interests and a mostly healthy competitive streak”

2022 Best & Brightest MBA: Olivia Koziol, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Former professional ballroom dancer turned strategy consultant, passionate about making opportunities for other career switchers”

2022 Best & Brightest Online MBA: Tomas G. Cavero, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Nuclear programs manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Navy veteran, future Amazon manager”

2022 MBA To Watch: Omar Howard, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Energetic and enthusiastic leader who gives his best effort regardless of circumstance”

2022 MBA To Watch: Kristen Koepsell, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“Combining my science background with my business acumen, I am dedicated to improving patient lives”

2021 MBAs To Watch: Claire Boston, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“I am a compassionate Southern female who wants to help others accomplish their goals”

School Features

An MBA App Windfall At UNC’s Kenan-Flagler

A 43% rise in MBA applications leads to a 37% increase in this year’s incoming class

Congrats to Kristopher Keller of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for being named a 2023 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professor.

2023 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Kristopher Keller, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School 

Congrats to Kristopher Keller of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for being named a 2023 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professor.

2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Mahka Moeen, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Mahka Moeen of UNC Kenan-Flagler shows students the importance of business strategy and its impact on managerial decision making

2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Nur Sunar, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Nur Sunar of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School helps the business world understand what’s possible in sustainability

MBA Watch For Kenan-Flagler

MBA Watch is where thousands of MBA applicants not only get to tell their story but have John A. Byrne, MBA admissions coaches and our audience, assess their odds of admission and get help to improve their chances of getting in!

Mr. Sports Management

Sales professional with success driving revenue via sports sponsorships.

Mr. Long Shot

Definitely have applied to reach schools on prayers.

Mr. IT To IB

Soccer, alpine ski racing, and all things watersports (wakeboarding, waterskiing, surfing, sailing).

Mr. Military MedTech

Transitioning 6 year active duty army sergeant (with family of 2) looking to peg on an MBA and pivot to the financial services industry.

Mr. Steelmaker To Consultant

I am working as Senior Manager(Operations) in a government-owned leading steel manufacturer in India for last 12+ years.

Mr. Jiu-Jitsu Account Admin

Hello everyone, about me, I am a California native and have graduated recently in 2019 finding myself a nice flexible role at a big bank as an account admin.

Ms. Healthcare MBA

Accomplished healthcare professional with 8+ years of experience across dentistry, entrepreneurship, and clinical research with a fervent passion for elevating human well-being.

Mr. Multimedia

I'm a multimedia professional with five years experience working in audio and video production.

Mr. Top Three

I work as a UAT test coordinator for a top 3 US bank handling 20-25 projects monthly from inception to promotion.

Rankings Data For Kenan-Flagler

Ranking 2023-2024 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020
Poets&Quants 20 19 19 19 19

News Coverage For Kenan-Flagler

Former Kenan-Flagler Professor Who Was Secretly Recorded Sues UNC

Lawsuit alleges retaliation for Larry Chavis’s outspoken views on faculty diversity & asserts violations of his 1st Amendment rights

No Vanishing Act: This MBA & Magician Has Written A New Book About His Tech Journey

Jared Molton has chronicled his unique journey from magician to tech executive in a new memoir that offers insights for MBAs

UNC Kenan-Flagler Prof: B-School Secretly Recorded My Classes

Larry Chavis says the business school recorded his class four times in April without his or students' knowledge

Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class Of 2025

Meet UNC Kenan-Flagler's MBA Class of 2025 through in-depth profiles on the extraordinary students, their stories, and their dreams

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Ashley Travis, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'An avid tech-enthusiast fueling innovation and efficiency through transformative solutions'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Priyanka Gupta, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'A kaleidoscope of curiosity, crafting dreams into reality, orchestrating a symphony of ideas in motion'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Rex Swindlehurst, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'I am an energetic father working towards a better life for my family'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Maria Alejandra Jaramillo, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'Latina using her voice and power to strengthen communities, connect silos and advance climate justice'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Jose Velazquez, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'A leader who sets an example through inclusion. Firm believer that the glass is always half-full!'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Eduardo Sola, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'Team-player, friendly, goal-oriented professional, constantly seeking to learn, share, and apply knowledge'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Mosiah Lloyd, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'An authentic individual full of charisma and has a passion for the built environment'

Meet The MBA Class Of 2025: Alex Binnie, UNC Kenan-Flagler

'I’m the daughter of two former Tar Heels! I am curious, creative, thoughtful and ambitious'

Kenan-Flagler Names A New Dean, And She Makes History

Mary Margaret Frank, senior associate dean at Virginia Darden, is Kenan-Flagler's first-ever non-interim woman dean

At UNC Kenan-Flagler, Asking The Right Questions About Energy

Not often associated with the energy industry, UNC's B-school is a 'hidden gem' for students considering a career there

2022 Most Disruptive MBA Startups: BOOMROOM, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

"A business management toolset and personalized business coaching for today’s health and wellness entrepreneurs"