Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management MBA Admissions: Requirements, Deadlines, and Tips

Application Overview

Johnson's Two-Year MBA in Ithaca has three application rounds in the 2026-2027 cycle, for entry in August 2027. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the round deadline. The application fee is $250. Applicants may apply to only one of Johnson's full-time MBA programs per cycle; the one-year Johnson Cornell Tech MBA has its own application process run by Cornell Tech. After a preliminary review, each applicant receives one of three initial notifications: an invitation to interview, an invitation to join the waitlist without an interview, or a denial. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships with no separate application.

Application Rounds

Application Components

• Online application form
• Resume
• List of activities
• Goals statement and one of two required essays (optional essay available)
• Transcripts for all post-secondary coursework and degrees
• GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment score (test waiver request optional)
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score if your first language is not English
• One professional recommendation (a second is optional)
• $250 non-refundable application fee
• Interview (by invitation)

Test Waiver

Johnson considers test waiver requests from applicants who meet one or more of these criteria: a STEM, business, or analytical/quantitative-focused undergraduate or graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA, second class upper division honors, or international equivalent; a CPA or CFA certification or international equivalent; or post-undergraduate, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function. Meeting a criterion does not guarantee a waiver. The request includes a 100-word statement, must be made in the application (not after submission), and is decided within 5-7 business days. An approved waiver is valid only for the current cycle and the program applied to. A test score is required for Sage Scholarship consideration.

Interview Process

Interviews are by invitation only and are sent by email after a preliminary review of the application. They are held in person in Ithaca or via Zoom, and the Admissions Committee has no preference between the two. Interviewers are the Admissions Team, MBA programs professional staff, and/or trained second-year students in the Johnson Admissions Group (JAG); all interviews are evaluated equally. An interview is required for an offer of admission to the Two-Year MBA.

Key Facts at a Glance

Application fee

$250

Tuition

$88,934

Estimated cost of attendance

$127,278

TOEFL minimum

100

IELTS minimum

7.0

Duolingo minimum

120

Enrollment deposit

$1,500 + $1,500

Sources

1. 1. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell MBA application deadlines & important dates (2026-2027)
2. 2. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, MBA admissions process & application guide
3. 3. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell MBA application requirements & FAQs (2026-2027 essays, tests, English proficiency)
4. 4. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Two-Year MBA tuition & financing (2026-27)

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