Admissions
National Rank – Graduate Planning Programs by Planetizen
Ranked Best Value in American Higher Education by Kiplinger
AICP Passing Rate
WHY CAROLINA?
Come here. Plan anywhere. Carolina Planning is one of the most established and well respected planning programs in the country with an alumni network that spans the globe. Our faculty members, world-class scholars leading cutting-edge research, are redefining the field of planning. And our international student body brings diverse skills and experiences to the classroom, where the low student to faculty ratio allows for high engagement and collaboration.
Read More
Other program highlights:
- Carolina Planning is ranked #5 among Urban and Regional Planning Graduate Programs in the United States.
- Carolina Planning offers dual-degree programs in Business, Public Health, Law, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Sciences.
- As part of the College of Arts and Sciences, Carolina Planning students have access to interdisciplinary courses across the university.
- Carolina Planning students work with several affiliated institutes, such as the Center for Community Capital, Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Coastal Resilience Center, Development Finance Initiative, and Institute for the Environment.
- We are a PAB-accredited program that upholds the highest standards in planning education.
- UNC-Chapel Hill has been ranked #2 by Kiplinger.com for ten consecutive years as the best value in public higher education.
Chapel Hill is part of the rapidly growing Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) and offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. The region routinely scores as one of the top 10 best places to live in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report.
Costs & Funding
Of the top five U.S. planning schools, Carolina Planning has the lowest in-state and out-of-state tuition. Plus, the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is more affordable than regions with comparable programs.
2024-2025 Tuition
- in-state tuition and fees = $15,743
- out-of-state tuition and fees = $34,400
As a part of the nation’s oldest public university, Carolina Planning has a deep commitment to high-quality education at an affordable price. All admitted applicants are considered for departmental, merit-based funding. Those who apply by the December deadline are also considered for Graduate School funding awards.
All students are eligible to apply for federal student loans through UNC’s Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Other funding opportunities based on merit, work, diversity, and need are open to students after their first semester on campus. For more information on tuition and fees, contact the Cashier’s office.
Key Dates
ONLINE APPLICATION
Funding Priority: December 10, 2024
Final Deadline: January 14, 2025
DECISION
March 2025
OPEN HOUSE
March 2025
student admissions ambassadors
Our student admissions ambassadors are available to welcome you, share about their experiences in our program, and answer questions. You can meet with them virtually, email them, or schedule a visit to come in person. Flip the cards to see more information about them and use the buttons below to get connected!
Alexander Lepisto
Alexander is a 4+1 student in the housing specialization, from Holly Springs, NC. Coming from UNC for undergrad he has experience with university resources, life in Chapel Hill, and balancing working off campus while being a student. He enjoys being outdoors and exploring Chapel Hill and it surrounding areas.
Lydia Adjetey
A transportation enthusiast with a keen interest in how it contributes to combating climate change. When not buried in schoolwork, you would find her glued to a movie, whipping up African meals and creating memories with friends and family. I am starting a quest to sample the best eats in town—send your recommendations my way!
Manny Valbuena Peña
Manny is a first year in the Housing and Community Development specialization. He is a lifelong North Carolina resident and his family is from Bogota, Colombia. He enjoys playing on the department’s intramural soccer team, enjoying Chapel Hill’s live music scene, and trying new restaurants!
Helen Klass-Warch
Helen is a second year student from Saint Paul, MN studying transportation and natural hazards resiliency. Prior to joining DCRP she worked in NYC and Boston in public affairs, at a humanitarian non-profit and as a line cook. She enjoys camping, biking, cooking and spending time outside all around UNC’s campus.
Meet Our Alumni
Alyson West, MCRP ’18
For 20 years Alyson worked in the music industry and lived all over the world, including places like Germany, Australia, and Portland. However, once she had a child she started to experience the built environment differently and began thinking more
Read more >>>Christina Galardi Henricks, MPH/MCRP ’16
Project Manager, SC Department of Health and Human Services Graduated: 2016 Specialization: Transportation Christina serves as a subject matter expert in Health Programs for the agency’s Replacement Medicaid Management Information System (RMMIS) project. She also co-chairs the City of Columbia’s
Read more >>>How do I apply?
All application materials should be submitted directly to The Graduate School’s admission portal.
A complete application includes:
- A completed application for admission to The Graduate School
- A supplemental questionnaire
- Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required if offered admission)
- Statement of Purpose
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Resume
- $95.00 application fee
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
- Note: No GRE scores are required or considered
We will begin reviewing applications immediately after the deadline has passed. Applications are complete when all necessary materials are received. We can only review materials that are received on or before the deadline, including recommendation letters. Please ensure that your recommenders are aware of this, so their letters are in before the deadline. In fairness to all applicants, no exceptions or extensions will be made.
The admission committees consider all credentials submitted as part of the application holistically. No single factor is regarded as qualifying or disqualifying. Factors considered in the review of all applications include: grades and academic transcript(s), references, strength of courses and undergraduate institution(s), professional work experience(s), and the Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose should demonstrate comprehension of and commitment to the planning field.
How are students selected?
The admissions committee considers all credentials submitted as part of the application holistically. No single factor is regarded as qualifying or disqualifying. Factors considered in the review of all applications include: grades and academic transcript(s), references, strength of courses and undergraduate institution(s), professional work experience(s), and personal statement. The personal statement should demonstrate comprehension of and commitment to the planning field.
MCRP applicants do not need to identify a faculty member to act as their advisor before applying to the program. Faculty advisors are assigned to admitted students before orientation.
National Rank – Graduate Planning Programs by Planetizen
Ranked Best Value in American Higher Education by Kiplinger
Post-graduation employment in Planning
WHY CAROLINA?
Come here. Plan anywhere. Carolina Planning is one of the most established and well respected planning programs in the country with an alumni network that spans the globe. Our faculty members, world-class scholars leading cutting-edge research, are redefining the field of planning. And our international student body brings diverse skills and experiences to the classroom, where the low student to faculty ratio allows for high engagement and collaboration.
Read More
Other program highlights:
- Carolina Planning is ranked #5 among Urban and Regional Planning Graduate Programs in the United States.
- Carolina Planning offers dual-degree programs in Business, Public Health, Law, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Sciences.
- As part of the College of Arts and Sciences, Carolina Planning students have access to interdisciplinary courses across the university.
- Carolina Planning students work with several affiliated institutes, such as the Center for Community Capital, Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Coastal Resilience Center, Development Finance Initiative, and Institute for the Environment.
- We are a PAB-accredited program that upholds the highest standards in planning education.
- UNC-Chapel Hill has been ranked #2 by Kiplinger.com for ten consecutive years as the best value in public higher education.
Chapel Hill is part of the rapidly growing Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) and offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. The region routinely scores as one of the top 10 best places to live in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report.
Meet Our Alumni
Michael Hogan, MCRP ’16
Michael is an economic development research analyst at RTI International, specializing in urban and regional economics.
Read more >>>Bill King, MCRP ’14
Bill is the Senior Vice President of Planning and Development for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and works on everything from retail recruitment to data and market information to transit and park planning.
Read more >>>Costs & Funding
Of the top five U.S. planning schools, Carolina Planning has the lowest in-state and out-of-state tuition. Plus, the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is more affordable than regions with comparable programs.
2024-2025 Tuition
- in-state tuition and fees = $15,743
- out-of-state tuition and fees = $34,400
As a part of the nation’s oldest public university, Carolina Planning has a deep commitment to high-quality education at an affordable price. All admitted applicants are considered for departmental, merit-based funding. Those who apply by the December deadline are also considered for Graduate School funding awards.
All students are eligible to apply for federal student loans through UNC’s Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Other funding opportunities based on merit, work, diversity, and need are open to students after their first semester on campus. For more information on tuition and fees, contact the Cashier’s office.
Key Dates
ONLINE APPLICATION
Deadline: December 10, 2024
DECISION
February 2025
OPEN HOUSE
March 2025
How do I apply?
All application materials should be submitted directly to The Graduate School’s admission portal.
A complete application includes:
- A completed application for admission to The Graduate School
- A supplemental questionnaire
- Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required if offered admission)
- Statement of Purpose
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Curriculum Vita
- $95.00 application fee
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
- Note: No GRE scores are required or considered
We will begin reviewing applications immediately after the deadline has passed. Applications are complete when all necessary materials are received. We can only review materials that are received on or before the deadline, including recommendation letters. Please ensure that your recommenders are aware of this, so their letters are in before the deadline. In fairness to all applicants, no exceptions or extensions will be made.
The admission committees consider all credentials submitted as part of the application holistically. No single factor is regarded as qualifying or disqualifying. Factors considered in the review of all applications include: grades and academic transcript(s), references, strength of courses and undergraduate institution(s), professional work experience(s), and the Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose should demonstrate comprehension of and commitment to the planning field.
How are students selected?
The admissions committee considers all credentials submitted as part of the application holistically. No single factor is regarded as qualifying or disqualifying. Factors considered in the review of all applications include: grades and academic transcript(s), references, strength of courses and undergraduate institution(s), professional work experience(s), and personal statement. The personal statement should demonstrate comprehension of and commitment to the planning field.
For PhD applicants, the fit with faculty research interests and expertise is very important. Most successful applicants have connected with the faculty member they would like to work with before they submit an application.
All applications for the PhD program are evaluated by faculty members and a committee of current PhD students. These students and faculty members make recommendations, and the faculty Admissions Director makes the final decisions.