Collegedunia Team Content Curator
Content Curator
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the parent institution of the Kenan-Flagler Business School while that of Darden School is the University of Virginia. Some important information about the MBA programs at the two are
Overview Comparison
| UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School | Darden School of Business | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 51 Financial Times 2025 # 26 Financial Times 2021 # 39 Financial Times 2020 | # 20 Financial Times 2025 # 11 Financial Times 2021 # 18 Financial Times 2020 |
| Programs | PG Programs -13 Doctorate Programs -5 | PG Programs -2 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 66324 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 18618 Per Year | Hostel + Meal - 18176 Per Year |
Top Courses Comparison
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 28 for Business by US News 2025 # 75 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 124 for Business by QS World University 2025 | - |
| application | #781 Applicants # 344 Admissions # 44 % Acceptance Rate | - |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 5/6 | - |
| Return on Investment/Average Package | #Average Salary126957 | #Average Salary |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Mar 3, 2025 (Round 3 Application Deadline 2026 Intake) Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline 2026 Intake) Feb 10, 2026 (Round 1 Deposit Deadline 2026 Intake) Apr 14, 2026 (Round 2 Deposit Deadline 2026 Intake) May 12, 2026 (Round 3 Deposit Deadline 2026 Intake) | - |
Other Popular Comparisons
Comparison Notes
- Both schools offer a number of Dual MBA programs across disciplines in their own universities as well as at other universities. However, Kenan-Flagler students have the choice of UNC and Duke University, whereas Darden students have the choice of UVA and John Hopkins University which is far more prestigious. Darden also has an MBA/Ph.D. program.
- Darden offers a number of specializations and there is no limit as to how many a student can earn. One of their popular tracks is the STEM-designated Management Science specialization.
- Kenan-Flagler offers 6 career and 6 enrichment concentrations, and these can also be combined as one desires. The STEM-designated specialization offered by this school is in Business Analytics & Management Science.
- Kenan-Flagler has a small international community, making up 8% of the total class compared to Darden’s 24%.
- Students at Darden can gain more real-life experience through the Darden Worldwide Course, the Global Consulting Project, or an exchange program abroad or within the USA.
- Kenan-Flagler gives opportunities to gain industry-oriented experience, and even global business experience, but its global immersion programs have a more quite complicated application process.
- Darden has better placement, with 97% of the class receiving employment opportunities within three months of graduation, compared to Kenan-Flagler’s 86%.
- The main industry that Darden graduates found a career in was consulting while for Kenan-Flagler it was financial services.
- Kenan-Flagler graduates got placed mostly in the South of USA, while Darden graduates got placed in the Northeast.
Darden is definitely the superior choice for MBA, as it has a better course, better placements, and more diversity. The city of Charlottesville is also very close to Washington DC which is a business hub and is itself a popular historical tourist location.
