About Cornell Johnson
Johnson at Cornell has deployed a number of sweeping initiatives over the past few years, including a revamp of its curriculum and the launch of a New York City campus. It also merged the business school with its schools of Applied Economics and Hotel Administration, enabling Johnson to pool resources, increase student choice and open new channels for collaboration.
Cornell offers a two-year residential MBA program on their main campus in beautiful upstate Ithaca, New York, with options for courses in New York City, as well as a one-year tech MBA. The one-year tech-driven program offers a studio-structured curriculum where students operate in cross-functional teams to develop solutions for nearby tech giants, with resources to commercialize their ideas. Both programs are STEM-certified intersecting business and tech. This is a bonus for international students, because those with the F-1 visa who are enrolled in a STEM-designated program become eligible for a STEM OPT (optional practical training) extension, allowing them to work in the US in an approved STEM field for up to 36 months.
Johnson puts a premium on small class size, engaged professors and its close-knit community. In fact, Johnson was rated No. 1 for Best Campus Environment in The Princeton Review’s 2023 B-School rankings. Johnson combines business fundamentals with a strong emphasis on applied learning, individually focused study, leadership development and intense collaboration. Yet the class is also wrapped in the academic universe of Cornell University, the largest Ivy League in the US, located in upstate New York.
Strengths and Specializations
Accounting, corporate social responsibility, ethics, technology
Graduating Class of 2025
Number of Applicants: n/a
MBA Class Size: 283
Avg. Age: 28
Avg. Work Experience: 5.4 years
Avg. GPA: 3.35
Avg. GMAT: 710
International Students: 42%
Female Students: 43%
Tuition: $79,910/year
Post-MBA Careers (class of 2023)
Career Sectors: Consulting 42%; Finance 35%; Tech & Telecoms 11%; CPG 5%
Top Recruiters: Altman Solon, Amazon, Bain, Bank of America, BCG, Citi, EY, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim, Jefferies, JP Morgan, McKinsey, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Pwc Strategy&, Wells Fargo
Avg. Base Salary: $162,808; Salary Increase: 150% (source: FT Rankings 2024)
Employment offered within 3 months of graduation: 94%
Cornell Johnson Rankings
Admissions
Deadlines for 2023-2024: R1 Sept 20, 2023; R2 Jan 10, 2024; R3 Apr 10, 2024
Essays:
Essay 1. Goals Statement
A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):
Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
Targeted Job Role:
Target Job Company:
Industry:
In 5–10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
Targeted Job Role:
Target Job Company:
Industry:
How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?
Essay 2. Impact Essay
At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words limit)
Essay 3. Optional Essay (required for re-applicants)
You may use the optional essay to explain gaps in your resume, call attention to items needing clarification, or provide additional details about any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson. (350s word limit)
Fortuna Tips & Advice
Read Fortuna’s Tips & Strategy for Cornell Johnson’s Essays
View our hour-long video strategy session: Behind the MBA Admissions Curtain with The Committee from HBS, Cornell & LBS.