Overview
The Cornell Johnson MBA is a two-year, full-time MBA at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The programme combines a strong business foundation with hands-on learning, industry immersions, a summer internship, and extensive opportunities to customize the second year.
With strong career outcomes in finance, consulting, technology, marketing, and management, the Cornell MBA is designed for professionals looking to accelerate their careers or make a significant career transition.
Cornell Johnson MBA at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Cornell University |
| Business School | SC Johnson College of Business |
| Programme | Full-Time MBA |
| Duration | 21 months |
| Location | Ithaca, New York |
| Class of 2025 median base salary | $175,000 |
| Offers within 3 months | 85% |
| Average signing bonus | $39,795 |
Cornell Johnson MBA Curriculum
The Cornell MBA combines core business courses with practical learning. During the first year, students build their business foundation and complete an Immersion that connects classroom learning with real-world industry challenges.
Students then complete a summer internship before returning for a highly customizable second year.
The programme requires 60 graduate-level credits and provides access to more than 100 electives within the business school, along with courses across Cornell University.
What Makes the Cornell MBA Different?
- Hands-on Immersion learning in the first year
- Required summer internship
- Highly customizable second year
- Access to courses across Cornell University
- Global learning and leadership opportunities
- Optional Cornell Tech experiences in New York City
This structure gives students a balance between core management education and the flexibility to build a more personalized MBA experience.
Cornell MBA Placements
Cornell reported that 85% of the Class of 2025 received a full-time job offer within three months of graduation, while 83% accepted an offer within the same period.
| Career Metric | Class of 2025 |
|---|---|
| Offers within 3 months | 85% |
| Accepted offers within 3 months | 83% |
| Average base salary | $158,426 |
| Median base salary | $175,000 |
| Average signing bonus | $39,795 |
Top Industries
| Industry | Class of 2025 | Average Base Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | 41% | $166,253 |
| Consulting | 28% | $171,625 |
| Technology & Telecommunications | 11% | $129,592 |
| Consumer Packaged Goods | 5% | $123,625 |
| Healthcare / Pharmaceuticals | 4% | $135,400 |
Cornell MBA Career Paths
Finance and consulting are the largest career destinations for recent graduates. In the Class of 2025, 43% entered finance and investment banking, while 29% entered consulting.
Other graduates moved into marketing, management, technology, healthcare, operations, and other business functions.
Top Employers
Companies hiring Cornell MBA graduates include:
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Bain & Company
- Boston Consulting Group
- Citi
- Deloitte
- EY
- JPMorgan Chase
- McKinsey & Company
- Microsoft
- Morgan Stanley
- Wells Fargo
Cornell MBA Internship
The summer internship is an important part of the two-year MBA. For the Class of 2026, 260 students were seeking internships and 99% accepted internship offers.
The average monthly salary reported by students who interned was $11,132.
Cornell MBA Fees
The cost of the Cornell MBA includes tuition, university fees, living expenses, housing, food, transportation, books, and other personal costs. Students should review Cornell’s current tuition and financing information when planning their budget because costs can change each academic year.
Cornell also provides scholarship and financial-aid opportunities for eligible MBA students.
Cornell MBA Admissions
The application typically includes a professional résumé, academic transcripts, goals statement, admissions essay, recommendations, and a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment where applicable.
Cornell’s current application rounds for the 2026–27 cycle include:
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 17, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027 |
| Round 3 | April 6, 2027 |
Cornell recommends applying early, particularly for candidates seeking scholarship consideration or planning a major career transition.
Cornell MBA Class Profile
The Class of 2027 includes 276 students, with a median GMAT of 710, median GPA of 3.4, and average full-time work experience of 5.3 years. International students represent 42% of the class, with 34 countries represented.
Who Should Choose Cornell Johnson MBA?
- Professionals targeting finance or consulting
- Candidates looking for a strong career-transition platform
- Students who value experiential learning
- Applicants who want extensive second-year flexibility
- Professionals interested in Cornell’s broader academic ecosystem
- Students interested in combining business with technology through Cornell Tech opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Cornell Johnson MBA?
The full-time Cornell MBA takes approximately 21 months to complete.
What is the Cornell MBA median salary?
The median base salary for the Class of 2025 was $175,000.
What percentage of Cornell MBA graduates receive job offers?
85% of the Class of 2025 received offers within three months of graduation.
Is Cornell MBA good for finance?
Finance is one of Cornell Johnson’s largest career destinations. In the Class of 2025, 41% entered financial services and 43% entered finance and investment banking functions.
Does Cornell MBA include an internship?
Yes. The two-year MBA includes a summer internship between the first and second years.
What is the Cornell MBA class size?
The Class of 2027 has 276 students.
Final Verdict
The Cornell Johnson MBA combines rigorous business fundamentals with practical learning, a required summer internship, and significant flexibility in the second year. Its strongest recent career destinations include finance, investment banking and consulting.
With a $175,000 median base salary and 85% of the Class of 2025 receiving offers within three months, Cornell provides clear evidence of strong recent employment outcomes. At the same time, students should consider the total cost of the MBA, location, and their specific career goals before applying.
