Compare the top 10 accredited online MBA programs in North Carolina, with published tuition (under $8,000-$125,589), GMAT requirements, specializations, and acceptance rates. All data sourced directly from the schools.
North Carolina offers one of the widest selections of accredited online MBA programs in the country, 10 on our list, led by top-ranked UNC Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) and NC State (Jenkins), alongside affordable public options such as UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, East Carolina, Appalachian State, Western Carolina and UNC Pembroke, plus private Queens University of Charlotte. All 10 hold AACSB accreditation, the gold standard earned by a minority of business schools worldwide.
On cost, the range is very wide: the most affordable option on our list is Western Carolina University (under $8,000 in-state), with UNC Pembroke ($11,092) and UNC Wilmington ($20,257 in-state) also among the best values, while UNC Chapel Hill's nationally ranked program tops the range at about $125,589. Tuition and fees change every year and in-state and out-of-state rates often differ, so confirm the current figure directly with the school before you budget.
Admissions are relatively accessible: most programs here make the GMAT optional or waivable, which removes a common barrier for working applicants. Available specializations span Business Analytics, Finance, Healthcare Management, Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing, among others. Most programs here are fully online (a few are hybrid or include a short in-person residency, flagged on each card), which suits professionals who want to keep working while they study rather than relocate to campus.
International applicants are generally welcome, check each school's TOEFL or IELTS requirements early. Treat the numbers on this page as a starting point for comparison, and verify accreditation, deadlines, and specialization availability on the university's official admissions pages before you apply.
| School | Tuition | Per credit | GMAT | Duration | Acceptance | Format | Accreditation | Intl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $125,589.06 | ≈$2,026/credit (2… | Optional | 18-36 months | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | ≈$29,648 (NC residents) - ≈$64,412 (non-residents) | $823.56/credit (N… | Optional | 18-36 months | N/A | Online | AACSB | — |
| The University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $11,092.30 | $268.11/credit | Optional | 12 months | N/A | Online | AACSB | — |
| North Carolina State University (Poole College of Management / Jenkins MBA) | ≈$57,298 (in-state) | ≈$1,432/credit (i… | Not required | 21+ months | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| Queens University of Charlotte (McColl School of Business) | $40,200 | $1,340/credit | Not required | 11-20 months | N/A | Hybrid | AACSB | ✓ |
| East Carolina University (Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business) | ≈$33,053 | N/A | Waivable | 2 years (or lon… | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| Appalachian State University (Walker College of Business) | ≈$20,484 (NC residents) | $569/credit (NC r… | Required | 2 years (flexib… | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Bryan School of Business and Economics) | ≈$24,500 (in-state) | N/A | Not required | 2.5 years (aver… | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Cameron School of Business) | $20,257 (in-state), $55,381 (out-of-state) | N/A | Not required | As few as 12 mo… | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
| Western Carolina University (College of Business) | Under $8,000 (in-state), under $24,000 (out-of-state) | N/A | Not required | 12+ months | N/A | Online | AACSB | ✓ |
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