University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill GRE requirements (2026)
UNC's Graduate School does not require the GRE centrally; individual programs decide, and many have waived or dropped it. In practice the Gillings MPH does not require it and Computer Science recommends but does not require it, while the Economics PhD and Kenan-Flagler PhD still require a standardized test.
About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university with nationally recognized programs in public health (the Gillings School), business, and the sciences. The Graduate School does not require the GRE centrally, leaving the decision to individual programs.
GRE requirement by program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.
| Program | Status | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
The Graduate School / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate School states the GRE test is not required centrally; however, individual graduate programs may require test scores as part of their admissions applications, and programs may petition the Academic Policy Committee to waive the requirement. | gradschool.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Gillings School of Global Public Health (Master of Public Health) Masters | Optional The MPH admissions requirements state that GRE scores are neither required nor typically recommended for applicants to the Master of Public Health program; the page discourages but does not prohibit submitting scores. | onlinemph.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Science (graduate programs) PhD and masters | Optional The department states that taking the GRE is not required but is recommended, and that there is no penalty for students who do not submit GRE scores. | cs.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Economics (PhD) PhD | Required The Economics PhD requires GRE scores reported officially to UNC; the department states it does not have a minimum GRE score or GPA for admission, but officially reported scores are part of the application. | econ.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Kenan-Flagler Business School (PhD) PhD | Required The PhD program requires a standardized test; only applicants who already hold, or will earn before any offer of admission, a research or professional doctorate may be exempted, and all other applicants must have official GRE/GMAT scores reported by ETS. | kenan-flagler.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Instructions for Graduate Applicants (program-by-program) PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate School's applicant instructions direct applicants to see specific program listings for test score requirement information, and note that applicants holding or earning a research or professional doctorate may be exempted from the standardized test requirement. | gradschool.unc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 20 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.
Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.
Should you submit a GRE score?
Where University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.
Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.