The Online MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Business School’s Online MBA program equips ambitious high achievers with the advanced business acumen, skills, and network they need to confidently take control of their career trajectory.

  • Ranked No. 3 in Best Online MBAs1—Benefit from a top-ranked Online MBA that ranks #1 for student engagement2 and become part of a powerful global network of 51,000+ business school alumni. 
  • Online MBA fellowships available—If you are admitted to the upcoming cohort, you will automatically be considered for a fellowship at UNC Kenan-Flagler. 
  • STEM-designated curriculum—In addition to covering traditional MBA competencies, our AACSB-accredited online MBA program focuses on topics that are reshaping the business landscape like data, AI and FinTech.

Shaping Agile Leaders Online for Over 15 Years

STEM Designated. Tar Heel ROI. Built for Modern Business. 

Learn to lead at the highest level and stand out in a competitive marketplace through an MBA shaped by the conversations happening in today’s C-suites. With an up-to-date core curriculum, more than 30 electives, immersive leadership experiences and the opportunity to earn a Leadership Academy Certificate alongside your MBA, this program is built for those ready to lead with grit, integrity and an innovative spirit.

Globally Recognized, Time-Tested Online MBA

Top 25

in Best Business Schools3

#1

Best Online General Management MBA Programs4

#3

Best Online MBAs5

#2

in Best Online Finance MBA Programs6

#4

in Best Online Business Analytics MBA Programs7

#1

in Best Online MBA Programs in Marketing8

We first offered our Online MBA in 2011, marking more than 15 years of unwavering dedication to producing industry players who create impact where it matters most. We also continuously evolve our Online MBA, ensuring that our graduates are able to meet the most pressing challenges of modern business head-on. 

Discover Why More Than 46,000 Ambitious Professionals Have Chosen UNC Kenan-Flagler to Advance Their Careers

UNC’s top-ranked9 Online MBA combines the flexibility of online learning with meaningful opportunities to connect—through courses taught by leading scholars and industry experts, an immersive in-person orientation, domestic and global Summits, in-person and virtual leadership workshops, and much more.

Refreshed Core Curriculum

A carefully sequenced core curriculum builds a strong foundation in the skills employers seek most, equipping you to lead in a rapidly evolving business environment. You’ll explore topics such as responsible AI use, leadership and talent management, and business innovation.

Six Concentrations and 30+ Electives

Get to electives after just three quarters. Choose from one of six concentrations (including Data Analytics and Decision Making; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Management and Leadership; Marketing; and Strategy and Consulting). 

Alternatively, build your own curriculum to suit your career goals, by choosing from a list of 30+ real-world-focused electives. 

In-Person Orientation and Global Summits

Designed to foster meaningful connections, the program brings you together with peers, faculty, and the broader Tar Heel network. 

Your experience begins with a required in-person orientation that sets the tone for your MBA journey. In your first year, you’ll also attend at least one Summit—an immersive three-day experience held in cities around the world and on the UNC campus—where you’ll explore real-world domestic and global business challenges alongside your peers and faculty.

Multiple Online MBA Start Dates

UNC’s Online MBA program offers four annual start dates (January, April, July and October), giving you the flexibility to start your MBA journey at the time that works best for you.

October 2026

Priority Deadline
June 22, 2026

Final Deadline
July 20, 2026

January 2027

Priority Deadline
October 12, 2026

Final Deadline
November 9, 2026

GMAT and App Fee Waivers Available

If you have five or more years of professional full-time work experience, you do not need to submit a GMAT or GRE score. Less experienced applicants can qualify for a waiver by demonstrating significant quantitative skills.

See if you qualify for a GMAT waiver.

The Online MBA also offers application fee waivers. Contact an enrollment specialist at 888-986-2622 or admissions@onlinebusiness.unc.edu to learn how you can qualify for a $150 application fee waiver.

Online MBA Fellowships Available for Admitted Applicants

Students who are admitted to the upcoming cohort will automatically be considered for a fellowship.

Let’s Put Your Ambition to Work

When you start an application, we’ll connect you with an enrollment specialist
who can offer personalized guidance and support.

Start Your Application

The Time-Tested Online MBA for Ambitious Leaders

No matter your industry or the size of your team, the way you lead matters.

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s #3-ranked10 Online MBA program has been shaping agile leaders online for more than 15 years. You’ll develop an approach to leadership that reflects your values, amplifies your strengths and positions you for success—whether you’re advancing in your current field or charting a new path.

We believe that every leader with ambition should get to pursue a rigorous MBA program without disrupting their life or job. Here’s what you can expect from our well-known Online MBA program, designed by some of the sharpest business minds in the world:

  • A STEM-designated degree that prepares you to make strategic, analytical decisions in today’s data-driven workplaces
  • Challenging coursework that equips you to bring integrity and skill to every challenge
  • Global learning experiences (Summits) that expose you to new cultures and perspectives—or immerse you alongside classmates and professors on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill
  • Access to more than 46,000 alumni who will help you keep scaling long after graduation

Become the leader you were meant to be. Let’s get started.

REQUEST INFORMATION

Leading With Impact: Workshops to Sharpen Your Strategic Edge

As part of the online MBA experience at UNC, you’ll gain access to the Leading With Impact series, a set of optional virtual and in-person workshops designed to strengthen your leadership skills.

Led by top UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School experts and industry experts, the series delivers practical insights and actionable strategies you can immediately apply in your context to help you achieve your professional and organizational goals.

An Unparalleled Online Learning Experience

Engagement and Learning

Experience Interactive Coursework:
At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we prioritize active student engagement through our state-of-the-art online platform. You’ll participate in live, interactive classes where you can collaborate with peers, engage in real-time discussions and receive immediate feedback from expert faculty. Our approach ensures that you’re not just passively absorbing information but actively contributing to a vibrant, intellectually stimulating learning experience.

Community and Network

Join a Community of Innovators:
As an online MBA student, you become part of a diverse, global network of 46,000 professionals, alumni and industry leaders. Whether through virtual study groups, global Summits or alumni events as part of the UNC Kenan-Flagler community, you’ll forge meaningful connections that extend far beyond the classroom. Our community is here to help you grow personally and professionally, opening doors to new opportunities and lasting relationships.

Student Support

Benefit from Student Resources: 
From the moment you start the program, you will be fully integrated into the community and enjoy the same personalized, responsive support as your on-campus peers. From day one of the program through graduation—and beyond—you will have access to a plethora of services including schedule planning, career management and development resources and more. We’re as vested in your success as you are. 

The Only Online MBA With Tar Heel ROI

Our students and graduates apply what they’re learning right away—no pauses, no interruptions—and it’s paying off.

“The knowledge and insights gained from my online courses have directly translated into practical applications within my job, allowing me to approach tasks with a broader perspective and innovative solutions. While in the program, I was promoted from director of internal operations to senior director of internal operations.”

Kitty W., Class of 2024
Senior Director of Internal Operations at Smithsonian Enterprises

Visit the Student and Alumni Profiles page to learn more about the success of our Online MBA students.

US$183,696

Average salary five months post graduation with bonus11

79%

of students received a salary increase or changed jobs while in the program12

Customizable Online MBA Curriculum From an
AACSB-Accredited School

AACSB Accredited

When you earn your MBA degree online from UNC Kenan-Flagler, you’ll be part of a business school that’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest-serving, most recognized accrediting body for business schools in the world.

Classes are taught by top UNC Kenan-Flagler faculty who have a wealth of experience teaching in an online learning environment. Our students know there’s no substitute for participation, so you can schedule your classes and coursework in ways that complement your existing responsibilities. 

Visit the Curriculum page to discover more about how you’ll be able to customize your curriculum. 

Learn how the Online MBA curriculum arms you with the skills and experience to become an agile leader.

REQUEST INFORMATION

Stronger Relationships,
Stronger Leaders

“The individuals I’ve been able to meet since I’ve been in the Online MBA program have changed the trajectory of my life.”

Andre W., Class of 2015
Chairman and CEO, The A. Shawn Group
Co-Owner, Duck Donuts (Charlotte and Atlanta)
Co-Founder, Free Fenix, LLC

Our alumni network of more than 46,000 former students includes more than 3,800 online graduates who say the relationships they’ve formed here are ones they’ll carry with them throughout their careers. Between online and in-person learning experiences, you’ll go beyond networking, getting to know your fellow students and faculty members on a personal level and collaborating in ways that create new opportunities and lasting trust.

As part of this driven, accomplished and supportive network, you’ll share ideas and gain meaningful insights from a diverse set of experienced peers—both inside and outside of the classroom. These connections build strong relationships that last well after graduation.

With UNC, You Have an MBA for Life

Once you’ve graduated from the Online MBA program, you can continue to rely on UNC Kenan-Flagler for career development resources and opportunities, including:

  • Personalized support and coaching from our MBA Career Services team
  • The option to take additional UNC Kenan-Flagler courses for a minimal fee
  • Connections with our global, 46,000-person alumni network

FAQs About the Online MBA From UNC Kenan-Flagler

  • Yes, waivers are available on a case-by-case basis for candidates who can demonstrate academic or professional readiness. Applicants with five or more years of professional work experience may be automatically exempt from testing. Others may request a waiver if they have a strong undergraduate record, such as a 3.2+ GPA in a STEM or highly analytical field.

  • For the 2026 academic cycle, the key application dates for our October 2026 start are: Priority Deadline: June 22, 2026, Final Deadline: July 20, 2026 Submitting your application by the priority deadline provides several benefits, including a $150 application fee waiver and early class registration.

  • Every MBA format at UNC Kenan-Flagler — including the Online, Full-Time, and Executive MBA programs — is fully STEM-designated. This designation highlights the curriculum’s focus on data-driven decision-making and quantitative analysis. 

  • The Online MBA program is designed for maximum flexibility, allowing you to choose a pace that fits your life. Most students graduate in 24 months, but the timeline can range from as little as 18 months to as long as 36 months. Students can take time off while in the program. To accommodate working professionals, the program offers four different start dates throughout the year in January, April, July, and October.

  • For the 2025–2026 academic year, the total tuition for the 62-credit Online MBA program is $125,589.06. This tuition rate is consistent regardless of how quickly you choose to complete the degree requirements.

  • The financial return on the UNC Kenan-Flagler Online MBA is significant for working professionals. According to an October 2024 exit survey of Online MBA students, the average ending salary at graduation was $179,041. Furthermore, 79% of students reported receiving a salary increase or changing jobs while still enrolled in the program, demonstrating the immediate ROI of the Kenan-Flagler curriculum.

  • Yes. The Online MBA offers more than 40 electives, allowing you to customize your experience and focus on the areas and skills you want to strengthen. You may also specialize in one of six concentrations: Data Analytics and Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management and Leadership, Marketing, or Strategy and Consulting. Additionally, students can earn a Leadership Academy certificate as a separate credential while enrolled.

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill partners with 2U to support the delivery of this online program. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill has full control over the program, including all core academic functions. Click here to learn more about 2U’s roles and responsibilities.

  1. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler). (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved on April 9, 2026. ↩︎
  2. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler). (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved on April 9, 2026. ↩︎
  3. Best Business Schools. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  4. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) Rankings. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  5. Best Online MBA Programs. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  6. Best Online Finance MBA Programs. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  7. Best Online General Management MBA Programs (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 12, 2026. ↩︎
  8. Best Online MBA Programs in Marketing (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 12, 2026. ↩︎
  9. Best Online MBA Programs. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  10. Best Online MBA Programs. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 10, 2026. ↩︎
  11. Reported salary statistics are based on exit surveys of MBA@UNC graduates in 2023, with 27% of students reporting bonuses. ↩︎
  12. Exit survey of Online MBA students (October 2024), 46% response rate. ↩︎