We are seeking individuals who have a passion for public service and the desire to be a leader.

No public service experience required. Whether you are just getting started or seeking to advance your career, a Master of Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill provides the skills and tools necessary to reach your goals.

“If you truly want to be a public servant and make a positive change, an MPA will give you the know-how to lead not just effectively, but ethically and equitably too.”

Adrienne Augustus ‘UNC MPA Alumni

One Program, Two Formats.

There are two convenient ways to earn your UNC MPA. We offer a full-time two-year format for on-campus students, while the online format is available for full- or part-time students. Scholarships are available both on-campus and online students.

Start Term

Fall 2023

Application Due

January 10th, 2023 (January 1st is recommended for best financial support consideration)

Start Your On-Campus Application

See How to Apply

Start Term

Coming Soon

Application Due

Coming Soon

Start Your Online Application

See How to Apply

Degree Requirements

0 Hours of Coursework
  • Includes 15 Elective Hours
  • A Professional Work Experience
  • Submission of Applied Research Problem (Thesis Substitute)
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Tailor your UNC MPA experience to a specific discipline within public administration by choosing a concentration for your degree. Our students are not required to choose a concentration area, but those who do must complete at least nine credit hours from the list of elective courses provided for that area. Concentrations include Local Government, Nonprofit Management, Public Management, International Relations, Public Health, Community and Economic Development, and Public Policy.

Learn More About Each Of These Concentrations

Upcoming Admissions Events

December 04, 2023

Join us for our last information session of the the year!  We’ll have more starting in the Spring,…

  • Admissions

October 29, 2023

Join this 45 minute session where we will cover the UNC MPA program in depth! Alumna Kathryn…

  • Admissions

October 02, 2023

UNC MPA is coming to Austin, TX for the ICMA conference.  22 students along with a handful of…

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  • Alumni
  • School

Recent Blog Posts

November 30, 2023

This post was written by 1st year student Julia Egger. Making the decision to attend graduate…

October 16, 2023

My name is Marshall Grayson and I am currently completing my third semester in the UNC MPA online…

September 18, 2023

We love getting to know our students. They are diverse, smart, and representative of why public…