The 2025–2026 Municipal and County Administration (MCA) program will be held in person at the School of Government and run from October 2025 to May 2026. The application period is June 2025. More information regarding dates, fees, and how to apply will be available in spring 2025. 

Municipal and County Administration, our flagship course, has been available to public servants in North Carolina since 1954 and has more than 3,700 alums. Course participants learn the roles, rules, and operations of city and county governments in North Carolina and become part of a broad network of local government peers.

This comprehensive application-based program takes place over eight months. Participants are city and county managers, department heads, and city and county officials whose responsibilities require an understanding of the functions of multiple specialization areas.

Major subject areas include:

• Local government law
• Organization and management
• Finance and budgeting
• Public employment law
• Planning and regulation development
• Municipal and county services

Who should apply?

City and county managers, department heads, and other city and county officials whose responsibilities require an understanding of the functions of multiple areas of specialization.

2025–26 Information 

Additional Information:

• In addition to in-class sessions, participants will be required to complete work outside of class, including pre-recorded video lectures, exercises, small group work, and readings 
• Successful completion of the program depends on the completion of assignments, attendance, and active participation.

2025–26 Dates
Classes are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting at 9:00 a.m. at the School of Government.

• October 7–9 
• November  4–6 
• December 2–4 
• January 13–15 
• February 10–12 
• March 10–12 
• April 7–9 

Materials

All materials and assignments are posted online via Canvas, the School’s secure online platform. You will also receive a hard copy of the reference book County and Municipal Government in North Carolina. 

Tuition

The 2024–2025 program fee was $4,500. The 2025–2026 fee will be posted in spring 2025. Expect an increase. 

Funding Sources 

Scholarships offer partial financial assistance to qualified applicants and their units who would otherwise be unable to attend the Municipal and County Administration program. Financial need will be a significant factor in determining who receives assistance. We receive many applications for scholarships. Applicants will not be offered assistance in all cases and should have alternate funding secured. The below sources are open to qualified candidates.

• Alumni Association of Municipal and County Administration (county and municipal applicants)
• James Blackburn III Memorial Fund for Municipal and County Administration (county and municipal applicants)
• Ellis Hankins Municipal Administration Scholarship (for municipal applicants)
• Peter F. Lydens Scholarship for Municipal Employees Endowment Fund (municipal applicants)
• Frayda S. Bluestein Scholarship Fund for Municipal and County Administration (municipal and county applicants)
• Civic Local Foundation (all applicants who are also members of the Civic Federal Credit Union or Local Government Federal Credit Union). Civic Local Foundation funding must be applied for separately at the link in the "financial need“ section of the program application. 

How to apply for funding

Answer the Funding Need question within the program application. This will put you in consideration for all the above except for the Civic Local Foundation. Civic Local Foundation funding must be applied for separately. An external link will be provided in the program application.

I’ve applied. Now what? 

• Applicants will receive program and funding notifications between August 15 and 30. Not everyone will receive their notification at the same time. 
• You will need to accept and confirm your acceptance by the deadline in the acceptance email.
• Bookmark this page to easily access essential dates, times, and deadlines.
• Secure tuition funding before the notification date. Not everyone who applies will receive tuition assistance. If accepted, be ready to finalize payment by August 30.