Cornell Johnson MBA: 2026-2027 deadlines and requirements
Key facts
| Program | Cornell MBA (two-year, full-time, Ithaca) |
|---|---|
| City | Ithaca, New York |
| Rank | #15 in U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools |
| Class size | Not published on the school's site. Looked at the MBA admissions page, application guide and facts page. |
| GMAT score | Not published for the class. Cornell says the middle 80% of applicants score 660 to 740 (edition not stated). |
| GRE | Not published. See the MBA admissions page. |
| Tests it takes | Takes the GMAT (Focus Edition and older), the GRE or the Executive Assessment. No minimum scores. Scores last 5 years. A test waiver can be asked for in the application. It is not guaranteed. It is for people with a STEM, business or number-heavy degree and a 3.0 GPA, a CPA or CFA, or full-time work in a number-heavy job. |
| Application fee | $250. Free for U.S. military and veterans, Forte MBALaunch members, Peace Corps people, Teach for America alumni and current Cornell students. Ask 3 business days before the deadline. |
| Tuition | 2026-2027 tuition: $88,934, plus a $1,500 first year fee. Total estimated cost of attendance: $127,278. |
| English test | Required if English is not your first language and you have no university degree from an English-speaking country. Minimums: TOEFL iBT 100 with 25 in each part, IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in speaking and writing, or Duolingo 120. |
Application rounds
| Round | Apply by | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | December 9, 2026 (first notice October 27, 2026) |
| The Consortium early application | October 15, 2026 | December 9, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | March 26, 2027 (first notice March 3, 2027) |
| The Consortium traditional application | January 5, 2027 | March 26, 2027 (first notice March 3, 2027) |
| Round 3 | April 6, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Eastern | May 21, 2027 (first notice May 7, 2027) |
Essays
- Not published. Goals statement: share your short and long-term goals. Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry]. In 5 to 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry]. Please share how you plan to leverage your unique qualities and utilize the resources available to you at Johnson to transition to your immediate post-MBA career goal.
- 350 words. Choose 1 of 2. Essay 1, Impact essay: At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. How do you intend to make a meaningful impact on the Johnson community?
- 350 words written, or under 3 minutes of media (pick 1 of the 2). Essay 2, Table of Contents essay: You are the author of your Life Story. Please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style.
- Optional, 350 words (required for reapplicants). Optional essay: use it to call attention to items needing clarification. Reapplicants must write it to say how they have strengthened their application.
- Only if invited, 500 words. Park Leadership Fellows essay, only if invited after your interview: Describe a past formal or informal leadership experience and how it informs your goals for growth as a leader. How would the Park Leadership Fellowship assist with these goals?
Recommendations
1 letter is required and you may send 2. Pick a boss, coworker or client who can speak about your leadership and work. It is sent through the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation.
Interview
By invitation only, and required for an offer. You choose Ithaca or Zoom. Booking within 7 days of the invitation is encouraged. Admissions team members, MBA staff or trained second year students do it. The length is not published on the pages read.
Other parts of the application
Resume. List of activities. Transcripts (unofficial first, official if you enroll). Apply to only one Johnson full-time MBA program. The one-year Johnson Cornell Tech MBA in New York City is a different program with its own application at tech.cornell.edu ([email protected]). It is not covered here. Deposits are $1,500 and $1,500.
Links
Sources
- Cornell Johnson: Cornell MBA, read November 1, 2026
- Cornell Johnson: Cornell MBA application guide, read November 1, 2026
- Cornell Johnson: Cornell MBA application deadlines & important dates, read November 1, 2026
- Cornell Johnson: Cornell MBA application requirements & FAQs, read November 1, 2026
- Cornell Johnson: Tuition & financing, read November 1, 2026
- Cornell Tech: Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, read November 1, 2026
- Campus photo: Eustress, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
