The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, ranked 51 globally by Financial Times in 2025, offers a rigorous Full-Time MBA program that blends academic excellence with practical experience. With 13 concentrations and strong ties to top recruiters worldwide, the school supports students through a vibrant alumni network and dedicated career services. Kenan-Flagler seeks motivated leaders with strong communication and analytical skills, preparing graduates to excel and make a positive impact in today’s business world.
The Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for the 2024-2025
Essay 1
Please respond to the questions below that will assist us in learning more about you (500 words)
– 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
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?(500 words)
Optional Essay
We encourage you to tell us 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.
The Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for the 2023-2024 (Old essays):
From the Admissions Committee: You’ll 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. Typically, we ask that you keep responses to 300-500 words max.
Required Essay 1
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 the goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?
Required Essay 2
Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:
We all belong to different communities representing various aspects of who we are, including groups we belong to, where we come from, how we think, what we believe, and how we see and experience the world. The process of discovery is strengthened when people with diverse perspectives and life experiences come together to share and learn from one another, negotiate differences, and engage in diplomacy.
How do you envision furthering your growth as an inclusive leader as an MBA student and as a business leader?
Optional Essay
We encourage you to tell us 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
Reapplicants
If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay (100 words or less) 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.
General FAQs for building UNC Kenan-Flager MBA Application
Q. Tuition and costs?
A. Tuition for 2024-25 is $73,226 (out-of-state) and $55,046 (in-state). Total costs including living expenses are approximately $102,400 (out-of-state) and $84,200 (in-state).
Q. How competitive is admission?
A. Kenan-Flagler’s Full-Time MBA has an acceptance rate of about 38%, with around 2,000 applications and 249 students enrolled for the Class of 2026.
Q. Average GMAT score?
A. The average GMAT is 707, with most scores between 675 and 720.
Q. Is the GRE accepted?
A. Yes, the GRE is accepted, but no average GRE score is published.
Q. Work experience requirement?
A. No minimum required; admitted students average about 5 years of experience.
Q. Average starting salary?
A. Median base salary is roughly $116,500, varying by industry.
Q. Program length?
A. The full-time MBA is a two-year program.
Q. Interview format?
A. Interviews are by invitation only, conducted blind and virtually or on campus; open interviews have been discontinued.