Frequently Asked Questions

UNC MPA students are permitted to pursue elective courses outside of the MPA program to create a curriculum that best serves their interests and career goals. For example, students can pursue interests in social services, emergency management, environmental sustainability, or education by taking elective courses in those areas at UNC or an institution of their choice.

Students are not required to choose a concentration area. More than half of our students opt not to pursue a concentration, and instead choose to take courses across different areas. If you do elect to pursue a concentration area, you must work with your academic advisor to ensure you take at least nine credit hours in that concentration area.

If you are an on-campus student, you will graduate in two years (three years if you are a dual-degree student). On-campus students take three to four classes (nine or more credits) per semester. Online students generally take two classes per semester if they are working full time. Most online students finish the program within two-and-a-half to three years, but students have up to five years to do so.

UNC MPA has a dedicated advising team. Students will be contacted by their advisor shortly after admission.

Accept your admission offer in the online application portal and pay the enrollment deposit. Next, you may create a UNC-Chapel Hill email address and confirm that your financial aid is in order, if applicable.

Official transcripts are not required to apply, but they will be required if you are admitted and decide to enroll. Please wait to request your official transcripts until after you are admitted. They can be sent to the UNC Graduate School at gradadmissions@unc.edu. Please do not have them sent generically to UNC-Chapel Hill, as this means they will go to Undergraduate Admissions.

Yes, the program will accept up to 12 credit hours of previously earned graduate credit from courses with a grade of “B” or better from an accredited institution. They do not have to be MPA courses.

It varies from year to year. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, academic majors, and institutions. Most of our on-campus students enter the program soon after completing their undergraduate degree; their average age is 25. There is a wider range of ages among our online students (22-65) with the average age being 29. Eighty-five percent of our online students hold full-time jobs. About half of our students come from North Carolina.