Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management – Cornell University

FAQ

What is the tuition for Cornell Johnson's Two-Year MBA program?

The tuition for Cornell Johnson’s Two-Year MBA program is $76,690 per year. The total cost of the Cornell Johnson MBA program is $107,622 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into Cornell Johnson's MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Cornell Johnson is around 30% It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example, the median GMAT score is 710.

What is the median GMAT score for admission to Cornell Johnson's MBA program?

The median GMAT score for the incoming class at Cornell Johnson is 710, with an 80% range from 660-760. Important Notice regarding GMAT scores on the Johnson Website: https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/

Does the Cornell Johnson MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Cornell Johnson MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now. Important Notice regarding GRE scores on the Johnson Website: https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/

What is the median GRE score for admission to Cornell Johnson's MBA program?

Cornell Johnson does not publish a median GRE score, however, this test is accepted.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Cornell Johnson's MBA program?

Cornell Johnson does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of five years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Cornell Johnson's MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Cornell Johnson student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Cornell Johnson's Two-Year MBA program is 5.5 years. The average age of a Cornell Johnson Two-Year MBA student is 29 years.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Cornell Johnson MBA program?

The average starting salary for Cornell Johnson Two-Year MBA graduates is $139,121. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Cornell Johnson's full-time MBA program?

Cornell Johnson offers a traditional two-year MBA program as well as a one-year Tech MBA for candidates who have an advanced degree.

What are the application deadlines for Cornell Johnson's Two-Year MBA program?

The September Round Two-Year MBA application deadline is September 22, 2022. The January Round deadline is January 10, 2023. The April Round deadline is April 11, 2023.

What are the application deadlines for Cornell Johnson's Tech MBA program?

The Priority deadline for Cornell Johnson's Tech MBA program is October 11, 2022. The January Round deadline is January 5, 2023. Rolling admissions begin March 7, 2023.

What percent of Cornell Johnson MBA students are women?

Thirty-nine percent of the Two-Year MBA class at Cornell Johnson are women.

What type of interview does Cornell Johnson use for MBA admissions?

Cornell Johnson offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials.

VIDEOS

Admissions

Class Profiles

The Johnson Two-Year MBA Class of 2024 is comprised of 303 students. Students in the Class of 2024 had a median GMAT score of 710 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.30. The class also had an average of 5.5 years of work experience. Thirty-nine percent of the first-year students are women, which holds steady from last year’s class. Sixteen percent are underrepresented minorities, which refers to students of African American, Native American, and Hispanic American backgrounds.  International citizens accounted for 43% of the class, representing 43 countries.

Learn more about the Two-Year MBA program

The one-year Tech MBA Class of 2023 is comprised of 81 students. The group has an average GMAT of 696 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.5. The Tech MBA Class has an average age of 29 and 5.5 years of work experience. Thirty-one percent of the class are women and 9% are underrepresented minorities. Twenty-two percent of the class represent U.S. minorities. Sixty percent of the Tech MBA Class are international students, representing 12 countries.

Learn more about the Tech MBA program

Application Procedures

After submitting an application for the Two-Year MBA program, qualified applicants will be contacted for an invitation-only interview. Interviews are conducted with current second-year Johnson students or a member of the admissions staff and may take place on campus or via Skype.

Application deadlines and procedures for Ithaca-based programs

Johnson is a member of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and recommends that eligible candidates apply using The Consortium application rather than Johnson’s online application.

Application requirements:

• Cornell MBA online application
• $200 USD application fee
• Resume
• List of activities
• Goals statements plus one required essay (second optional)
• Transcripts from all post-secondary coursework and degrees
• GMAT or GRE score report
• English Language Exam (TOEFL or IELTS) score report for applicants whose native language is not English
• One letter of professional recommendation (second optional)

Interview Reports

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Virtual

My interview was very conversational with a 2nd-year student, who was very friendly and professional. He had my resume and some notes from the AdCom. It was around 30 mins + 15 mins for my questions to the interviewer. Questions: 1. Tell me about yourself and your professional background. 2. Why MBA? Why now? 3. […]

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

This was a really laid back interview with an adcom. It lasted about 25 minutes and essentially went over my background, why MBA, why Johnson, and my plan for recruiting. Not much more to it than that. I got the impression that they really just wanted to know that I had a well thought out […]

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Had my interview with a 2nd-year student. Very conversational mostly seemed to be digging into my background because it is non-standard (military) and my goals because they too are non-standard (construction/real estate/development). Great experience overall. 1. Tell me about yourself. 2. What are you looking to get out of an MBA? 3. Goals? 4. I […]

MBA Interview Report Round-Up: Chicago Booth, Cornell Johnson, MIT Sloan

Welcome to a new series, Interview Report Roundup, in which we highlight the MBA admissions interview reports that applicants have shared recently to the Clear Admit Interview Archive. We start with a look at a couple of Chicago Booth interview reports. A Round 1 applicant chose to visit campus for their interview with a second-year […]

Cornell Johnson Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Virtual

My interview was conducted online, and the interviewer was a Cornell Adcom. She was interested in getting to know about my short-term and long-term goals. Along with why I wanted to pursue an MBA at Cornell. I thought she was a very pleasant person to speak to and I felt very comfortable speaking to her. […]

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

The interview was very conversational and casual. He broke the ice by chatting about the weather and the city that I live in for a few mins, which put me at ease. The asked the following questions: – Walk me through your resume. – Why MBA, why Johnson? (in between asked me what are you […]

Cornell Johnson Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

The interview process was pretty standard. The interviewer seems to have my resume and a brief summary of my application (not the entire application). Typical questions and the atmosphere was friendly and casual. Interviewer questions include: Tell me about yourself. Why did you choose your industry? How did you get your motivation? What’s your career […]

Cornell Johnson Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

List of interview questions 1. Walk me through your resume. (I was cut off after a very short amount of time. I only got to mention my undergrad and one of my three jobs) 2. Why an MBA? Why now? 3. What attracts you to Johnson? 4. Do you feel you will be at a […]

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

It was conversational, she checked my ID then introduced herself. She then asked me about my career to date. Questions: How will an MBA help you achieve your goals? What are your short- and long-term goals? Why MBA and why now? Why Johnson? What steps will I take to achieve my goals and what is […]

Cornell Johnson Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Second-Year Student / Skype

Top-level: It was a relatively low-stress typical interview with fewer ‘situational/behavioral’ and ‘how-would-you-contribute’ questions than other schools. Tips for applicants: Don’t forget your driver’s license. Make sure to ask the interviewer to repeat their name and email very clearly so that you can write it down and thank them after the interview since Skype closes […]

Johnson Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management

In our latest installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions & Scholarship at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, to the podcast to discuss all things admissions and more. Eddie has spent the past 18 years of his professional career in higher […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Eddie has spent the past 17 years of his professional career in higher education, primarily within the admissions field. Over the last nine […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management

Eddie Asbie, Interim Executive Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, has spent the past 16 years of his professional career in higher education, primarily within the admissions field. He has called Ithaca and Johnson home over the last eight years and enjoys making […]

Cornell / Johnson LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

Johnson’s 80+ faculty members are scholars and practitioners that represent the fields of accounting, finance, management and organizations, marketing and management communication, operations, technology and information management, and strategy and business economics. Research centers and institutes include the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, the Emerging Markets Institute, the Parker Center for Investment Research, and the Smith Family Business Initiative.

In addition to Johnson faculty, students also have access to more than 230 faculty across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business who are experts in hospitality, applied economics and management, sustainability, agricultural economics, human resources, food and beverage management, and more.

Curriculum

The curriculum breakdown varies across the MBA programs. The one-year Tech MBA begins with a 10-week summer core in Ithaca, New York, and then takes residence at Cornell Tech in New York City. Tech MBAs take courses that intersect tech and business and work with other graduate students in engineering, law, and computer science to develop products, startups, and innovations in a Studio format. The Tech MBA spans May to May, for a total of 12 months.

Students in the Two-Year MBA start their core courses in the fall, complete an immersion in the spring, do an internship in the summer, and spend the remaining fall and spring taking electives and, sometimes, courses or intensives at Cornell Tech. The Two-Year MBA spans 21 months.

Course exemptions vary by degree program. Incoming students may be able to take an exam to “test out” of some core courses.

Two-Year MBA Curriculum

For career enhancers and switchers, Johnson’s flexible Two-Year MBA curriculum gives students the practical skills they need and the freedom to dive into an area they’re passionate about. Far from a lock-step sequence, students can customize their studies and focus on specific industries during their first year. They also develop leadership skills, work with second-year MBA mentors, and participate in domestic and international treks.

• First semester: Required courses in the MBA Core—topics such as financial accounting, microeconomics, strategy, leading teams, data analytics, and more
• Second semester: Hands-on learning and industry immersion—corporate finance, digital technology, investment banking, investment research and asset management, strategic operations, strategic marketing, or sustainable global enterprise
• Summer internship
• Third semester: Electives, co-curricular activities, and NYC weekend courses
• Fourth semester: More electives, NYC intensives, and course selections across Cornell University

Two-Year MBAs complete an immersion in one of the following areas:

• Corporate Finance
• Digital Technology
• Investment Banking
• Investment Research and Asset Management
• Semester in Strategic Operations
• Strategic Product and Marketing

Two-Year MBAs may also choose electives to shape two depth or breadth concentrations:

Breadth concentrations

• Consulting
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership & Ethics
• Global Business Management
• Sustainable Global Enterprise

Depth concentrations (Two-Year MBA)

• Corporate Finance
• Financial Investing
• Financial Analysis
• Marketing Analytics
• Marketing Management
• Private Equity
• Strategy

Learn more about the Two-Year MBA program

Johnson Cornell Tech MBA Curriculum

The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program is based at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City. This one-year program is designed to transform tech-focused individuals into business leaders and entrepreneurs. MBA students work on interdisciplinary teams with other graduate students in engineering, law, operations research, and computer science to produce visionary ideas and solutions grounded in significant societal challenges. Students are surrounded by a rapidly expanding tech environment and have frequent interactions with industry leaders, startup founders, and venture capitalists.

• Summer: 10 weeks of required core courses focused on business fundamentals on Cornell University’s upstate New York campus
• Fall semester: Move to New York City and take program-based courses like entrepreneurial finance, design thinking, digital marketing, and more, and work on interdisciplinary, team-based Studio courses with hands-on tech projects
• Spring semester: The opportunity to participate in an international trek is followed by program courses like sales and business development, managerial decision making, and negotiations; continue working in teams for Studio courses and projects—create a startup idea or learn how to build, scale, and innovate in a complex environment

Learn more about the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program

Other MBA programs at Johnson

• Dual-Degree Programs — Combine an MBA with another top-ranked academic program at Cornell University
• Executive MBA Americas — An MBA for working professionals offered on Saturdays and Sundays in select cities
• Executive MBA Metro NY — An MBA for working professionals offered on Saturdays and Sundays in New York City
• Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership — A dual degree for working professionals in the healthcare sector offered on weekends in New York City
• Cornell-Tsinghua Finance MBA — A bilingual executive MBA program based in Beijing, China, for working finance professionals

Campus Life

Ithaca-Based MBA

Johnson’s Two-Year MBA program is offered at Cornell University’s main campus in Ithaca, New York. Ithaca is known for its beautiful natural landscape, family-friendly community, and downtown area. Classes are held primarily in Sage Hall and the new Breazzano Family Center for Business Education.

Students can choose to participate in and lead any of 80+ student organizations ranging from the Women’s Management Council to the Black Graduate Student Association, and from the Old Ezra Finance Club to the Johnson Pets Society. They also participate in international treks, leadership expeditions, and case competitions. Johnson offers a unique, “two campus, one community” approach, which allows Ithaca-based residential students to take weekend courses or half-semester intensives at Cornell Tech in NYC. Opportunities for networking are endless.

Johnson’s community is tight knit and small by design (on average: 280 students in each Two-Year MBA class). Johnson students are hard working with impressive academic and professional portfolios, but they are also supportive and willing to lend a hand to their peers. Faculty are accessible and get to know their students, and diversity of culture, thought, and experience is extremely important—Johnson was one of the first top business school to have a dedicated Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Johnson Cornell Tech MBA in NYC

After completing their 10-week summer core at Cornell University in Ithaca, students in the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program take residence on Roosevelt Island in NYC. Cornell Tech officially opened in September 2017 and is home to seven master’s programs, including the MBA. Students work in interdisciplinary teams and learn from faculty and industry leaders who are well-versed in business and tech. Students generally live in The House, a residential building on Roosevelt Island, and often interact with high-level tech executives during intimate Conversations in Studio. Surrounded by state-of-the-art facilities and immersed in technology, students work with a small cohort to bring ideas to life.

MBA Careers

Johnson’s Career Management Center works with students to craft their resumes, connect with recruiters, and negotiate job offers. Alumni often come back to campus to recruit and mentor students, and students help one another when it comes to recruitment strategies—the environment is far from competitive. In addition, center staff work with Two-Year MBA students to secure and complete an internship during the summer between their first and second years.

Students in the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program benefit from constant interaction with tech companies and startups. They participate in on-campus “blitz interviews” and work with Cornell Tech’s Career Management Center to navigate opportunities and offers within the tech space. Students expand their networks within the tech ecosystem by listening to prospective employers, experienced entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists who come to Cornell Tech for “tech talks” instead of traditional recruiting presentations.

Career Statistics

Two-Year MBA Class of 2021

• Three months post-graduation: 97% reported full-time offers
• Mean base salary: $139,121
• Mean sign-on bonus: $37,684
• Jobs accepted by industry: 36% finance, 27% consulting, 17% technology, 6% consumer products, 5% manufacturing, 9% other

Johnson Cornell Tech MBA Class of 2021

• Mean base salary: $150,000
• Mean sign-on bonus: $50,000
• Jobs accepted by industry: 75% technology, 19% consulting, 6% financial services
• Jobs accepted by function: 59% product manager/product manager-technical, 16% product marketing manager, 9% consultant, 16% other (developer, strategy lead, project manager)

Financing

To help students finance their studies, Johnson offers a range of merit-based scholarships. Admitted students are automatically considered for awards if they meet the criteria; no supplemental application is required. About 30% of Johnson students receive partial financial support in the form of merit-based scholarships.

Johnson grants up to 25 Two-Year MBA candidates the prestigious Roy H. Park Fellowship, which provides a full-tuition grant and additional leadership training. Applicants wishing to be considered for the Park Leadership Fellows program must complete Johnson’s application and submit the Park Leadership supplemental essay.

Johnson partners with several organizations that offer financial support to diverse, qualified applicants:

• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Forté Foundation
• Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA)
• Toigo Foundation
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program

Cost of attendance per academic year

Two-Year MBA in Ithaca (first-year cost):

Tuition: $76,690
Health insurance: $3,311
Estimated housing/food: $20,016
Estimated books: $1,100
Estimated personal expenses: $4,486

Johnson Cornell Tech MBA:

Tuition: $118,758
Health insurance: $4,264
Estimated housing/food: $37,054
Estimated books: $1,650
Estimated personal expenses: $6,432

Recent Cornell / Johnson News

‘Big Tech’ Jobs & Careers Remain Popular with MBA Graduates

Take a closer look at MBA graduates’ tech industry jobs placement overall and at Big Tech firms for the full-time MBA Classes of 2018 to 2022. Despite a recent decline in tech industry hiring, t

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Virtual

My interview was very conversational with a 2nd-year student, who was very friendly and professional. He had my resume and some notes from the AdCom. It was around 30 mins + 15 mins for my questions t

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

This was a really laid back interview with an adcom. It lasted about 25 minutes and essentially went over my background, why MBA, why Johnson, and my plan for recruiting. Not much more to it than that

Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Had my interview with a 2nd-year student. Very conversational mostly seemed to be digging into my background because it is non-standard (military) and my goals because they too are non-standard (const

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