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The program offers a variety of scholarships and research assistantships, and all students are automatically considered when they apply.

Tuition rates and available scholarship funds vary depending on whether a student is enrolled in the on-campus or online format.

The MPA program is committed to recruiting exceptional candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, regardless of income level.

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0% of applicants are considered for program support

On-Campus

OR

Online
oncampus tuition and financial aid
tuition

  • *Estimated cost per credit hour:
    • NC residents: $682.25
    • Non-residents $1718.75
  • *Estimated max tuition per semester (over 9 credit hours):
    • NC residents: $5,882.00.
    • Non-residents: $15,210.50
  • *Estimated total cost for program:
    • NC residents: $23,528
    • Non-residents: $60,842

*Estimates above include tuition and all fees except for a student field fee of $200 when student enrolls in PUBA 747 and PUBA 748.

The University Cashier Graduate Programs website includes the breakdown of tuition and fees.

Learn More About Residency Determination

Learn More About Graduate Tuition and Student Fees

scholarships and student aid

  • *All admitted students to the on-campus format receive some sort of financial aid support offer from the program. 
    • *Admitted students with military funding may not qualify for program support.
  • Program Scholarships (no work requirement)
    • Applicants are automatically considered when they apply by the priority deadline of January 1st.  No additional steps needed.
    • Amounts vary and are based on many factors including candidacy, interest areas, etc.
    • Scholarships are made possible by generous donations from friends of the program.
  • Research Assistantships (work requirement)
    • Applicants are automatically considered when they apply by the priority deadline of January 1st.  No additional steps needed.
    • Assistantships are primarily allocated to non-resident admitted students to help reduce their tuition costs.
    • The number of assistantships available each year varies and are based on project availability, faculty, and budgets. 

 

online tuition financial aid
tuition
scholarships and student aid
  • All applicants are automatically considered for program scholarships if you apply by the priority deadline.  No further action is required in order to be considered for these opportunities.
  • Scholarships in the online format are prioritized for non-residents, and currently 100% of all non-residents who are admitted receive some sort of scholarship offer.
  • Scholarships are provided in varying amounts and go toward tuition reduction.
  • Scholarship amounts vary and are based on candidacy, previous experiences, potential for success, and academic merit, among other considerations. 

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loans

Both online and on-campus students can apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA should be completed annually for each academic year of enrollment. Please note that applicants will not be considered for financial aid until they are officially admitted into the program.

Loans are available on the student’s own initiative from the federally insured student loan program. Information is available from the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, 111 Pettigrew Hall, P.O. Box 1080, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919.962.8396, aidinfo@unc.edu.

federal direct graduate plus loans

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans provide additional funding for those students (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only) whose costs exceed the maximum direct loan eligibility of $20,500 per academic year. Students should exhaust their federal direct loan eligibility before pursuing a Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. The interest rate for Graduate PLUS loans is a fixed 7.9 percent.

private loans

Private loans provide additional funding for those students (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) whose costs exceed the maximum direct loan eligibility of $20,500 per academic year. Students usually exhaust their federal direct loan eligibility before pursuing a private education loan. The interest rate for private education loans is variable and is based on either the prime rate or LIBOR.

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