Applicants

Financial Aid

The UNC MPA Program provides financial assistance to many of its students. Research assistantships or partial scholarships are available to top candidates. Furthermore, some students become involved with Institute of Government projects or work with other university, governmental, or nonprofit organizations as paid part-time graduate assistants. Students coming from other states are encouraged to gain North Carolina resident status after their first year. Information on current tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students is available through UNC’s Cashier's Office.

Applicants accepted for admission are automatically considered for scholarships. No separate application is necessary. Commitments are made for one year only. The MPA Program is unable to provide scholarship funding for international students.

Loans

Loans are available on the student’s own initiative from the Insured Student Loan Program. Information about this program is available from the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, 300 Vance Hall, P.O. Box 1080, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Scholarships

The UNC MPA Program awards several scholarships annually to qualified students, including the following:

Established in 2005, the Rothwell Scholarship is the premier MPA scholarship and was endowed by Sharon and A. Douglas Rothwell, both graduates of the UNC-Chapel Hill MPA Program. The Rothwell Scholarship is awarded annually to an academically outstanding student.

The Ronald Aycock Public Administration Scholarship was given by friends and colleagues to honor Ronald Aycock upon his retirement for 30 years of service to county governments in North Carolina. 

The Jean Coble Scholarship is awarded annually to an entering MPA student. The scholarship honors Jean Coble for her 18 years of service as MPA program manager.

The Diversity Scholarship in Public Administration celebrates the program’s commitment to diversity and provides special support for continuing efforts to attract a diverse group of students to the MPA Program.

The John Gold Scholarship is granted by the North Carolina City and County Management Association to a student interested in a career in local government.

The Robert House Fellowship, provided by gifts in memory of G. Robert "Bob" House, who had a distinguished career in local government in North Carolina and Virginia, is granted to a student planning to pursue a career in local government.

The Howard Holly Scholarship is granted by the North Carolina Association of County Finance Officers.

The Hayman-Howard-Wright Scholarship was established by the MPA Alumni Association in honor of three outstanding MPA faculty members: Professors Donald Hayman, Kenneth Howard, and Deil Wright.

The J. Edward Kitchen Scholarship was established by the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Ed Kitchen was the City Manager of Greensboro, North Carolina. Ed is an outstanding public servant, an enthusiastic member of the Greater Greensboro community, and a dedicated UNC MPA Alumnus whose support of the MPA Program and this scholarship is greatly appreciated.

The Nanette V. Mengel Scholarship is given by the family of Professor Mengel, a former MPA faculty member who taught the communications class for 23 years.

The North Carolina Local Government Scholarship was endowed by Ed Wyatt, a retired North Carolina City Manager. It is awarded annually to a second-year UNC MPA student who is a North Carolina resident and who has a demonstrated interest in a local government career. 

The Betsy Ross Howe Stafford Scholarship supports a student who demonstrates a serious interest in a career in local government administration. The scholarship was created by Betsy Ross Howe Stafford, following an honorable career in federal government administration.

The Preyer Family Scholarship was established by the L. Richardson Preyer family primarily for the support of students interested in careers in nonprofit management.

The Paul Wager Scholarship was established by Professor Donald Hayman and is awarded in memory of Professor Wager, an eminent authority on local government.