01 · Class profile
Who is in the Cornell Johnson MBA class
Class of 2027, the newest class profile. It is the table headed Class profile Cornell MBA on Johnson's Industry Partners page, last updated 9th Jul 2026, shown beside the Class of 2026. Johnson has not published a profile for the Class of 2028, which started on 5th Aug 2026.
Johnson does not give entry years on that table. We understand the Class of 2027 to have started in August 2025, though Johnson does not say. Johnson also does not name the class that starts in August 2027, so these figures are a guide, not a forecast.
Class of 2027 and Class of 2026, side by side
| Measure | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 |
|---|
| Students enrolled | 276 | 282 |
| Median GPA | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Average age | 29 | 28 |
| Average full-time work experience | 5.3 years | 5.3 years |
| Women | 38% | 41% |
| Under-represented minorities | 26% | 22% |
| Countries represented | 34 | 34 |
| Of international origin | 42% | 35% |
| US military | 14% | 9% |
Johnson's footnote defines under-represented minorities as Black/African American, Native American and Hispanic American. Johnson labels the 42% as international origin; we show it as international in the card above.
Test scores
| Test | Average | Median | Range |
|---|
| GMAT, Class of 2027 (edition not stated) | Not published | 710 | Not published |
| GRE, Class of 2027 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Johnson labels the 710 only as GMAT (median) and does not say whether it is the Focus Edition or the previous one. It also does not say how many students took each test. Johnson sets no minimum GMAT or GRE score.
Johnson says the middle 80% of its applicants submit GMAT scores between 660 and 740, and that GRE equivalencies are comparable. This describes applicants, not the enrolled class, and Johnson does not name the edition.
Work experience
Johnson says full-time work experience is not required to apply, but on average students have completed five years of full-time work before enrolling. It publishes no range.
Campus and programme
The Johnson Two-Year MBA is full-time, on the Ithaca campus. Johnson's pages differ on length: the programme page says 2 years, and the Dual-Campus Track page says 21 months. This page uses 2 years in the hero.
A Dual-Campus Track with Johnson Cornell Tech is open within the same programme. Fall and spring of year one are in Ithaca, then the rest is on the Cornell Tech campus in New York City, over 21 months.
Johnson does not publish the class by nationality region, academic background, industry background or function background, or a GMAT or GRE range.
Where do you sit in this class? Enter your score, experience and profile and see your position and interview risk.
Check my chances02 · Placements
Where Cornell Johnson MBA graduates go
Class of 2025, from the Cornell MBA Class of 2025 section of Johnson's MBA career outcomes page, which Johnson last updated on 11th Oct 2026. It is the newest full-time report. Johnson has not published one for the Class of 2026, only an internship report.
Johnson reports base salary and signing bonus separately, so do not add them. The average signing bonus is $39,795, on top of the average base. Johnson gives no median bonus and no share of graduates who received one. The page shows a dollar sign and does not name the currency.
Of the 285 graduates in the Class of 2025, Johnson says 239 were seeking full-time employment. It reports that 85% received offers and 83% accepted offers within three months of graduation, and states no response rate.
Johnson's pages differ: its programme page says 95% employed within three months of graduation, without naming a class or a base, and its career outcomes page says 85% received offers and 83% accepted. This page uses the career outcomes page.
Johnson prints no overall highest salary.
By work authorisation, Class of 2025
| Measure | US work authorised | Non-US work authorised |
|---|
| Received offers within three months | 91% | 77% |
| Average base salary | $160,449 | $154,963 |
| Average signing bonus | $40,847 | $37,845 |
Industry of the job (share of graduates employed)
Technology and telecom
11% Consumer Packaged Goods
5% Share of graduates employed, Class of 2025, as Johnson's table gives them. Johnson notes that the numbers may not total 100% because of rounding.
Names are shortened: technology and telecom is Technology and Telecommunications, and healthcare and pharma is Healthcare, Medical Services and Pharmaceuticals. Other: education, government, hospitality and tourism, law or legal services, real estate and retail; Johnson shows no pay for it.
Within financial services, Johnson shows median base salary of $175,000. In consulting it is also $175,000, and in technology and telecommunications it is $133,700.
Function of the job (share of graduates employed)
Finance and Investment Banking
43% Operations and Logistics
3% Share of graduates employed, Class of 2025. Within Finance and Investment Banking, Johnson shows investment banking at 69%. Johnson notes that numbers may not total 100% because of rounding.
Region of the job (share of graduates employed)
Central and South America
1% European Free Trade Zone
1% Share of graduates employed, Class of 2025. Asia and MENA is Asia and Middle East/North Africa, and Central and South America is Central America, Caribbean and South America.
Johnson says roughly 95 percent remained in the US for work and that the Northeast employed almost two-thirds. Its US table shows the Northeast at 60%, and Johnson does not explain the difference.
Summer internships, Class of 2026
Of 278 students, 260 were seeking internships and 99% accepted offers. The average monthly salary was $11,132. Johnson published this on its internship data page, last updated 11th Oct 2026.
Employers
Johnson's list of top hiring companies for Class of 2025 full-time positions, as it prints them in alphabetical order. It gives no counts.
Accenture, Amazon, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Citi, Deloitte Consulting LLP, EY (Ernst & Young), EY-Parthenon, Guggenheim Partners, LLC, Jefferies Group, JP Morgan Chase & Co., McKinsey & Company, Microsoft Corporation, Moelis & Company, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Wells Fargo & Company.
03 · Fees and scholarships
What it costs, and how to pay less
$127,278
yearly total cost
$177,868
est. total tuition
The $88,934 tuition and the $127,278 cost of attendance are Johnson's estimates for the academic year 2026-27, with the dollar figures as Johnson prints them. Johnson itemises one year only and states no two-year cost of attendance.
Johnson's programme page shows Est. Total Tuition of $177,868 for the full-time, 2-year programme. That is Johnson's own figure. It is twice the yearly tuition, but Johnson does not say whether year-two tuition stays the same.
Johnson's estimated cost of attendance, 2026-27, one academic year
| Cost | Amount |
|---|
| Tuition | $88,934 |
| First Year Fee | $1,500 |
| Student activity fees | $100 |
| Health fee | $600 |
| Housing | $19,962 |
| Meals | $5,768 |
| Books and supplies | $2,464 |
| Transportation | $3,754 |
| Miscellaneous | $4,196 |
| Total | $127,278 |
Johnson says the First Year Fee is non-refundable, charged in the first semester, and covers core course packs and materials for the first year. It says non-billed costs such as housing and books depend on student choices, and that tuition is billed each semester.
Deposits and fees
| Item | What Johnson says |
|---|
| Enrollment deposit | $1,500, non-refundable, due by 12:00 PM ET on the Deposit and Official Documentation Deadline for your round: 29th Jan 2027 for Round 1, 30th Apr 2027 for Round 2 and 4th Jun 2027 for Round 3. |
| Second and final deposit | $1,500, due 4th Jun 2027 for all rounds. Johnson does not offer deposit extensions. |
| Park Fellowship deposit | $4,500 in total, which is $3,000 on the deposit deadline in the offer plus the $1,500 second deposit. Johnson's Park Fellows page says it is refunded after matriculation. |
| Application fee | $250, non-refundable. Johnson waives it for US military service members and veterans, Forté MBALaunch participants, current or former Peace Corps volunteers, Teach for America alumni and current Cornell students. Email the application coordinator before you submit, no later than 3 business days ahead of the deadline. |
| Background check | A Re Vera Services background check is a required last step before enrolling. Johnson does not state the amount or who pays. |
Scholarships and funding
| Scholarship | What you get and who it is for |
|---|
| Merit scholarships | Johnson says it has over $14 million in scholarship funds to award each year to new students and gives partial scholarships to a substantial percentage of students. It publishes no percentage. Every applicant is considered automatically, with no separate application, and those who apply earlier get priority. Any scholarship is in your offer letter. |
| What merit looks at | The same things as admission: leadership and interpersonal skills, prior academic performance, exam scores, range and depth of work experience, writing skills, extracurricular and community involvement, recommendations, previous achievements, focus and goals. An Admissions Scholarship Committee decides, without regard to citizenship. |
| Second year | Johnson says students who enrol without scholarship funding in the first year will not receive scholarship support in the second, except for the Fried Fellowships, which go to five second-year students for academic excellence and contributions to Johnson. |
| Named scholarships | Merit scholarship recipients are considered automatically, with selection in summer or fall. Johnson says named awards replace merit awards already received and do not add funds. |
| Consortium Fellowship | Full tuition for two years, merit-based, through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. It is open to qualified US citizens and permanent residents from underrepresented groups and others who show commitment to the Consortium's mission. You apply through The Consortium, and Johnson gives fellowship decisions in mid to late March. |
| Roy H. Park Leadership Fellowship | A full-tuition, two-year fellowship for up to 25 entering students a year. You are invited after your interview and write a 500-word essay tied to a virtual L.E.A.D. event. Johnson does not publish the L.E.A.D. dates. |
| Forté Fellow Program | Johnson has been a Forté partner since 2004. Candidates of all nationalities and sexes who support Forté's mission are eligible, the admissions committee decides, and there is no separate application. Johnson gives no amount. |
| ROMBA Fellowship | A minimum of two awards of $10,000 a year, plus mentorship and leadership development programming. No application is needed. |
| Sage Scholars Program | A small number of applicants each round, chosen on academic achievement measured by undergraduate GPA and GMAT or GRE score. There is no separate application, but a test score must be submitted, so a test waiver rules it out. |
| Veterans | The Peter and Stephanie Nolan Veterans Scholarship for US military veterans, and the Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill, 100% eligibility). Slots are first come, first served, and Johnson sets an annual cap on participants. |
Johnson's pages differ on Park Fellowship eligibility: the requirements page and application guide include permanent residents, while the scholarships page says it is only open to US citizens. This page uses citizens and permanent residents.
Loans
| Loan | Who it is for |
|---|
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans | Eligible US citizens and permanent residents, up to the published cost of attendance less other aid. You file the FAFSA with school code 002711 and complete the Johnson Federal Loan Application request form. Processing begins in mid-March and you must have accepted the offer. |
| Private education loans | Up to the published total cost of attendance less other aid. |
| Quorum Federal Credit Union loan | For international students in the Two-Year MBA, with no co-signer. It currently allows borrowing up to the cost of tuition plus $10,000 of additional expenses, if you have no credit or at least good credit in the United States. Johnson emails the details to admitted international students. |
Johnson says admissions decisions are made independently of an applicant's financial situation. Financial aid office: financialaid@johnson.cornell.edu.
Could your profile earn a scholarship? Check where you stand before you apply.
Check my chances04 · Rounds and deadlines
Which round, and by when
Johnson's pages show the 2026-2027 season, and its programme page says the programme starts in August. We understand this to mean entry in August 2027, though Johnson does not say. Round 1 has closed. Round 2 is the open round.
Round 117th Sep 2026
- Initial notification:
- 27th Oct 2026
- Decision:
- 9th Dec 2026
Round 25th Jan 2027
- Initial notification:
- 3rd Mar 2027
- Decision:
- 26th Mar 2027
Round 36th Apr 2027 (final deadline)
- Initial notification:
- 7th May 2027
- Decision:
- 21st May 2027
Application deadlines are 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The decision date is the latest day Johnson will post final notification, on a rolling basis. Johnson reviews applications on a rolling, space-available basis, and priority for scholarships goes to those who apply earlier.
Johnson says initial notification, after a preliminary review, is one of three outcomes: an invitation to interview, an invitation to join the waitlist without an interview, or a denial. Johnson does not publish interview windows or the interview completion deadlines for each round.
Round 1's initial notifications were due on 27th Oct 2026. Johnson's page does not say whether they have been released.
Consortium applicants have their own deadlines. The Consortium Early Application closed on 15th Oct 2026, with final notification by 9th Dec 2026, and Johnson lists no initial notification date for it. The Consortium Traditional Application is due on 5th Jan 2027, with the same notification dates as Round 2.
Johnson also runs the Cornell MBA Future Leaders Program, a deferred admission route for seniors and graduate students. It applies through Round 2 or Round 3, and enrolment follows 3 to 5 years of work. You may apply to only one of Johnson's full-time MBA programmes.
Not sure which round to aim for? We look at your file and tell you.
Check my chances05 · Clubs and activities
Life outside class
Johnson's club directory, on its student-group platform, lists 53 Residential MBA Clubs and 10 other groups. Johnson's pages differ: its Global learning page says 56 Johnson School clubs, and its Why Johnson page says dozens. This page uses the directory.
What the clubs do
| Club | What they do |
|---|
| Adam Smith Society | Salon dinners and debates on policy issues; Annual case competitions between top business schools; Destination treks (intellectual retreats) |
| Associate Real Estate Council (AREC) | Hosts guest lecturers; Promotes student research; Organises trips to industry seminars, conferences and current development projects |
| BR Tech Strategy | MBA teams consult with Cornell inventors to analyse commercial opportunities for early-stage university-generated technology |
| Community Impact | Volunteering in the community; learning from relationships among the for-profit, non-profit and public sectors |
| Consulting Club (JCC) | Educates members about the consulting industry; Helps members prepare for consulting recruiting |
| Cornell Energy Club | Focus on alternative and traditional energy, energy finance and innovation across sales, trading, finance, consulting, marketing and entrepreneurship |
| Corporate Leadership (CLC) | Prepares members for corporate internship and full-time recruiting in Marketing, General Management and Corporate Finance |
| Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club at Cornell (ETA) | Informs about the search fund asset class; Connects students, alumni and the investor community |
| European Club (EC) | Promotes professional opportunities in Europe; Strengthens the European alumni network |
| Family Business Club | Meets monthly to share experiences of family businesses; Discusses family-business challenges and opportunities |
| Golf Club | Friendly competition and member education; Golf as a networking tool with students, faculty, alumni and recruiters |
| Greater China Business Club (GCBC) | Culture sharing; Support for school life and recruiting; Networking platform |
| Healthcare Club | Educates students on the healthcare landscape; Creates engagement with alumni and industry leaders |
| High Tech Club (HTC) | Career information, education and social events related to the tech industry; Structured guidance for tech recruiting |
| Human Capital Association (HCA) | Speakers, workshops and symposiums; Collaboration with CAHRS, SHRM at the ILR School, the Consulting Club and the Center for Leadership |
| Investment Management Club (IMC) | Weekly meetings with skill-based programming; Coordinated recruiting efforts with the CMC and CWGs |
| Jewish Business Association (JBA) | Connects, informs and supports the Jewish community on campus; open to all of the Johnson community |
| Johnson FC | Semi-organised soccer activities through the school year; Business-school soccer tournaments |
| Johnson Food and Agriculture Club | Guest speakers from food, beverage and agriculture industries; Curated on- and off-campus events |
| Johnson Ice Hockey Club | Practice and graduate-level hockey games and tournaments; Campus-wide intramural games and MBA hockey tournaments |
| Johnson Japan Club (JJC) | Presentations; Cultural events; Job search sessions |
| Johnson on Tap (JoT) | Tasting domestic and international beers (emphasis on micro-brews); Learning the brewing process; Social activities |
| Johnson Wine and Spirits Club | Fun and educational wine opportunities for students; Open to the entire Cornell graduate community |
| MBA Student Council | Sixteen elected students; Meets weekly with deans and other key faculty and staff; Works on strategic areas (alumni development, branding, long-term planning) and tactical areas (curriculum requirements, food service, social events) |
| Old Ezra Finance Club (OE) | Educational and career development opportunities in finance; the club calls itself the oldest and largest club at Johnson |
| Out For Business (O4B) | Connects students with alumni, students at other business schools and LGBTQ+ professionals |
| Retail and Luxury Club (RLC) | Alumni and expert speakers; Networking; On- and off-campus industry events such as champagne tastings, movie screenings with industry insiders and company visits in key cities |
| Ski and Snowboard Club | Weekly practices at the local ski resort; Business-school ski tournaments |
| Southeast Asian Club | Social events; Recreational activities; Field visits |
| VC@Johnson | Connects Johnson students and industry professionals in venture capital |
| Women’s Management Council (WMC) | Sponsors efforts to increase women's enrolment at Johnson; Connects members with current and future women leaders |
As each club's own text on the directory describes it, shortened to the first three activities. Many clubs publish only a mission, so those appear in the list below.
Clubs whose mission text lists no activities
Access Johnson; Asian Affinity Business Association (AABA); Association of Veterans; Black Graduate Business Association (BGBA); Canadian Business Club; Cornell F1 Club; Hindu Business Society; Hispanic American Business Leaders Association (HABLA); Hospitality Business Club; JD-MBA Society; Johnson Africa Business Society (JABS); Johnson Christian Fellowship (JCF); Johnson Crew; Johnson Gaming Club; Johnson Poker Club; Johnson Tennis Club; Korean Business Association (KBA); Latin American Business Association (LABA); Media, Entertainment and Sports Club; Outdoor Ventures; South Asian Business Club (SABC); Sustainable Global Enterprise (SGE).
Other groups
| Club | What they do |
|---|
| Big Red Venture Fund (BRV) | Cornell's early-stage venture capital fund run through Johnson; helps entrepreneurs create companies out of ideas |
| BR Microenterprise (BRM) | Launched January 2009; first domestic microfinance and business support organisation run by MBA students; With Alternatives Federal Credit Union provides loans and business coaching to low-income entrepreneurs in Tompkins County |
| Courageous Communication Lab (CCL) | Practical tools, dialogue-based resources and expert coaching on conflict, collaboration and communication under pressure |
| Forte Members | Johnson joined the Forté Foundation in 2004 (women in business) |
| International Student Council | Forum for international students' interests; comprises the VP of International Students and heads of all international clubs; raises issues to the Diversity Council, Student Council and administration |
| Johnson Board Fellowship (JBF) | Experiential leadership programme: MBAs serve as non-voting volunteer members of non-profit boards and committees |
| Johnson Consortium (CGSM) | Johnson joined The Consortium in 2009 as the 15th member school |
| Johnson Joint Ventures (partners/families association) | Association for spouses, significant others and families of Johnson MBA students |
The directory also lists the Johnson MPS Student Council, which is for Johnson's MPS programmes and not the Two-Year MBA, and the Industry Club Council, which has no description.
Events
| Event | What it is |
|---|
| Sage Socials | Recurring networking events held in Sage Hall for students, families, faculty and staff. |
| Johnson Outdoor Experience | Outdoor activities and shared adventures to build teamwork. |
| Big Red Bash | Johnson's annual signature celebration in New York City for alumni, students and business leaders, which honours distinguished alumni. |
| Cultural events | Johnson says large cultural events each year include Diwali, Lunar New Year and Carnaval. |
| Johnson Means Business | A two-day immersive experience with panels, mock classes and networking sessions. Johnson says the application to attend is currently closed, and that participants receive an invitation to interview during the cycle and a 2026-2027 application-fee waiver. |
Global and leadership options
Second-year students chosen through a formal selection process can exchange places for one semester with partner schools. They keep paying tuition to Johnson, aid awards apply as normal and credits count toward the MBA. You apply in the first half of the spring semester of year one.
Credit-bearing international trip courses run in winter and spring breaks. Johnson names recent locations including Spain and Morocco, Italy, Ghana, Norway, and Japan and Korea.
The Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program has a two-year leadership curriculum for a cohort of 25. Fellows take leadership roles and complete a public service project before graduating.
06 · Process
From application to decision
Submit the application
Apply online by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the round deadline, with the $250 fee. You may apply to only one of Johnson's full-time MBA programmes.
Johnson says it offers no pre-assessments.
Initial notification
After a preliminary review, Johnson tells you one of three things: you are invited to interview, invited to join the waitlist without an interview, or denied.
Johnson says candidates must complete an admissions interview to be offered admission.
InterviewBy the interview completion deadline for your round
Johnson invites you by email. You choose in person in Ithaca or on Zoom. Johnson encourages you to schedule within seven days of the invitation, and you must finish by the interview completion deadline for your round.
Johnson does not publish those deadline dates.
Final notificationNo later than the round's final notification date
An offer of admission, an invitation to join the waitlist, or a denial, posted on the Johnson Application Portal on a rolling basis, no later than the round's final notification date. Johnson says the Admissions Committee likes to phone offers.
AcceptBy the round's deposit deadline
Submit the enrollment agreement and the $1,500 deposit by 12:00 PM ET, with official transcripts and test scores. Pay the second $1,500 by 4th Jun 2027, and complete the Re Vera Services background check.
Johnson says admission may be rescinded if the check is not completed or shows an ethical violation.
If you are waitlistedReviewed on an ongoing basis
You may stay on the waitlist through and after the final deposit deadline in June 2027, until the class is finalised. Johnson encourages an action plan to waitlist@johnson.cornell.edu.
Johnson does not give individual feedback sessions, and candidates who are not admitted get no feedback.
07 · What you need
What goes into the application
1. Eligibility
You need a bachelor's degree to enrol. Applicants still in a degree programme send their latest transcript and an official copy once the degree is conferred. Full-time work experience is not required. On average, students have completed five years.
2. Test score
Johnson accepts the GMAT (including the GMAT 10th Edition), the GRE or the Executive Assessment. It sets no minimum score. Scores are valid if taken within five years of the application date, and Johnson uses your highest total score across exams. Unofficial score reports are accepted for review, and official scores are needed before enrolling. Johnson's requirements page says official scores are needed for a final admissions decision, while the application guide says to send them with the enrollment agreement and deposit. The GMAT program code is 5JW-BM-96 and the GRE code is 8296.
Johnson limits attempts to eight GMAT sittings in a lifetime, five GRE sittings in a rolling 12 months and six Executive Assessment sittings in a lifetime (three in person, three online).
3. Test waiver
Johnson offers a waiver for the full-time Cornell MBA only, for this cycle, and does not guarantee it. You must request it inside the application, not after submitting. You may qualify if you have one of the following.
A STEM, business or analytical or quantitative undergraduate or graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA, or second class upper division honours or an international equivalent. A CPA or CFA certification or an international equivalent. Or post-undergraduate full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function shown on your resume.
You write a short statement of 100 words describing your personal circumstance and giving a clear and compelling argument for why you will flourish in a rigorous academic environment. Johnson replies by email in 5 to 7 business days. A waiver does not transfer to the one-year Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, and a test score is required for Sage Scholarship consideration.
4. English test
You need the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or Duolingo English Test if English is not your native language and you have not earned a university degree in an English-speaking country. The minimums are TOEFL 100 overall with at least 25 in each section, IELTS 7.0 with at least 7.0 in speaking and writing, and Duolingo 120 overall. Results are valid for two years. Johnson does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores or TOEFL Essentials.
You are exempt if you are a native citizen of the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana or Canada, or hold a degree from one of those countries or from a country where English was the sole language of instruction, with official documentation. Johnson says citizens of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong or Singapore are not eligible for an exemption on citizenship, and that residency and work experience do not qualify.
5. Essays
These are Johnson's prompts for the 2026-2027 admissions season, as printed on its application requirements and FAQs page. Johnson asks for a goals statement plus your choice of one of two essays.
Essay: Goals statement (required, short answer, no word limit stated)
Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
In 5 - 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.
For each goal you fill in a targeted job role, a target company and an industry. Johnson says candidates invited to interview will elaborate on the goals statement.
Essay 1: Impact (choose Essay 1 or Essay 2, 350 words)
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?
Essay 2: Table of Contents (choose Essay 1 or Essay 2; 350 words if written, multimedia under 3 minutes)
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.
Johnson says alternative formats may include a slide presentation, links to existing media such as a personal website or YouTube, and visually enhanced written submissions. The maximum file size is 25 MB, and multimedia submissions must be under 3 minutes.
Optional essay: Additional information (required for reapplicants, 350 words)
You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson.
Reapplicants use it to indicate how they have strengthened their application and candidacy since the last time they applied. Johnson says candidates with a previous MBA use it to explain a second MBA.
Essay: Park Leadership Fellows (invitation only, after the interview, 500 words)
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?
6. Recommendation
One letter of recommendation is required and you may submit up to two. It goes through the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation. You enter at least one reference's contact details in the online application and Johnson emails the recommender an invitation to complete the letter online. The questions are the same for all participating schools.
Johnson wants a recommender who can speak with certainty about your leadership, maturity, team orientation, analytical skills and interpersonal skills, such as a current supervisor, colleague, client or former supervisor. Johnson publishes no separate recommender deadline. Reapplicants must submit a new recommendation, and it can be from the same person.
7. Video or assessment
Johnson's pages describe no video essay and no separate written assessment for the Two-Year MBA. The only multimedia option is Essay 2, under 3 minutes. Johnson describes the interview as the evaluative conversation.
8. Other documents
The online application form, a resume and a list of activities, and transcripts for all post-secondary coursework and degrees. Johnson publishes no format, page-length or section rules for the resume or the list of activities. The $250 application fee is non-refundable.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted at application, and official copies are due with the enrollment agreement and deposit. Johnson says an offer is not binding until it verifies official records and test scores. If your grades are not on a 4.0 scale, do not convert them to a GPA. Records not in English need a certified English translation, and Johnson does not accept transfer credits.
08 · What Johnson wants
How Johnson reads your file
Johnson says there is no single profile for a successful applicant. Beyond strong academics and professional achievements, it looks for people who show leadership, collaboration and a genuine potential to contribute to and benefit from its close-knit, collaborative community. It says it takes a holistic approach, and that test scores are only one indicator.
| Johnson looks at | In plain words |
|---|
| Your academics | Outstanding academic credentials and a commitment to academic excellence. |
| Your resume | Notable professional accomplishments. Johnson's programme page adds professional growth and leadership potential. |
| Your essays | Thoughtful essays that communicate your fit and your potential contributions as a community member. |
| Your test score | A competitive GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment score. Johnson sets no minimum. |
| Your wish to make an impact | The desire to make a positive impact. |
| Your goals | The ability to clearly communicate your career goals and the role Johnson will play in them. |
| Your recommender | Your leadership, maturity, team orientation, analytical skills and interpersonal skills. |
| Your interview | The interview lets the Admissions Committee get to know you and assess whether the programme and community are a good fit. |
Johnson publishes no weighting for any part of the application.
See how your file reads against these areas before you spend weeks on the application.
Check my chances09 · Interview questions
What candidates say Johnson interviewers ask
Five types of question that candidates describe, based on candidates' own accounts of their Johnson interviews from 2021 to 2026. Nobody gets a fixed list. The tag says how likely that type of question is: high means it comes up in close to half of candidate accounts or more, medium in roughly a quarter to just under half, and low in fewer than a quarter.
| Topic | Chance | How it is usually asked |
|---|
| Why Johnson | HIGH | “Why Johnson specifically, and how do you plan to get involved?” Candidates say follow-ups ask how you will get involved, what you can bring to the community, who you have spoken with at the school and why Johnson over other options. |
| Your goals, and why an MBA now | HIGH | “What do you want to do after the MBA, and what have you done to explore it?” “Why do you want an MBA, and why now?” |
| Your recruiting plan, and plan B | HIGH | “What is your recruiting strategy, and which firms are you targeting?” “What would you do if banking or consulting recruiting does not work?” Candidates say interviewers want to see a realistic path into your target industry and a fallback. |
| Teamwork, leadership and failure | HIGH | “Tell me about a time you worked in a difficult team and how you handled it.” Candidates say there are usually one or two of these, not a long run of tell-me-about-a-time questions. |
| Ithaca and living in a college town | MEDIUM | “What do you think of living in Ithaca?” Candidates say this appeared from 2024 onwards. |
The accounts are moderate in number and written from memory, so read the tags as a guide. Few accounts cover 2026. Candidates also say the interviewer often asks you to tell them about yourself and to walk through your background, and ends by asking what questions you have.
10 · Interview experience
What the interview is actually like
What Johnson says
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|
| Invitation | By invitation only, sent by email after a preliminary review of the application. Johnson says candidates must complete an admissions interview to be offered admission. |
| Purpose | To let the Admissions Committee get to know you and assess whether Johnson's programme and community are a good fit. |
| Who interviews | The Admissions Team, MBA programs professional staff and/or trained second-year MBA students (the Johnson Admissions Group). Johnson says all interviews are evaluated equally, regardless of the interviewer. |
| Mode | In person in Ithaca, New York, or on Zoom. You choose. Johnson says the Admissions Committee does not have a preference and that Zoom will not have a negative impact. |
| Scheduling | Johnson encourages you to schedule within seven days of the invitation. Interviews must be completed by the interview completion deadline for your round. |
| Consortium candidates | Johnson describes a Consortium Super Day: an invitation-only experience, released on a rolling basis with limited space, in which the interview is completed and Consortium candidates meet Consortium students and the MBA Programs team. |
| Not published | Interview length, the number of interviews, whether the interviewer sees your file, and the interview completion deadline dates. |
What candidates report
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|
| Who runs it | One interviewer in one round, who is either a second-year student or a member of the admissions team. Students did all the interviews in the earliest accounts from 2021, and the newest accounts from 2026 are few and all describe admissions staff. Johnson's page names both types of interviewer. |
| What the interviewer sees | A student interviewer usually has only your resume, and some ask to see a photo ID before starting. An admissions interviewer more often has your resume plus short notes from the reader of your file. Candidates say neither has read the whole application. |
| Mode | Almost always by video, on Skype in the older accounts and Zoom after that. A few describe an interview on campus in Ithaca, mostly in 2026, and one an off-campus admissions interview. |
| Length | About 30 minutes of questions, with 10 to 15 minutes more for your own questions. Johnson does not state a length. |
| Tone | Friendly, relaxed and conversational in most accounts. Some student interviews feel scripted, with questions read from a list. One 2026 admissions interview was pushed hard but politely. |
| Running order | A short settling-in chat, then tell me about yourself, why an MBA and why now, goals, why Johnson, plan B and recruiting questions, one or two behavioural questions, anything else for the committee, and your questions. |
| What sets it apart | The recruiting block. Candidates say interviewers want a realistic path into your target industry, such as which firms, how you will network and what you have done already, and a fallback if it does not work. |
| Your file | Used lightly. Questions are tailored to your resume, such as the industry or major you chose or a career switch, but not to your essays. |
| Separate events | One 2026 account describes a six-hour team event on video for second-round candidates, run by admissions, with team activities, a group discussion and a case presentation. Other accounts do not confirm it, and it may be a separate invitation-only event rather than the standard interview. |
Based on candidates' own accounts from 2021 to 2026. Interviewer type changes the experience, and the accounts cannot tell you which you will get. Johnson's own page is the authority for the current format.
11 · FAQs
Questions students ask about Cornell Johnson MBA
Is there a minimum GMAT or GRE score?
No. Johnson sets no minimum score and accepts the GMAT (including the GMAT 10th Edition), the GRE or the Executive Assessment. For the Class of 2027 it gives a median GMAT of 710 and does not say which edition. Johnson says the middle 80% of its applicants submit GMAT scores between 660 and 740.
Can I apply without a test score?
Possibly. Johnson offers a test waiver for the full-time Cornell MBA, for this cycle only, if you have a STEM, business or quantitative degree with a 3.0 GPA, a CPA or CFA certification, or full-time work in an analytical or quantitative function. It is not guaranteed, and you request it inside the application.
How much work experience do I need?
Johnson does not require full-time work experience to apply. For the Class of 2027 it gives an average of 5.3 years, and it says students have on average completed five years of full-time work before enrolling.
What are the essay prompts and word limits?
A goals statement with no stated word limit, plus your choice of Essay 1, on impact on the Johnson community, or Essay 2, a Table of Contents for your Life Story, each 350 words if written (multimedia submissions under 3 minutes). An optional essay of 350 words is required for reapplicants. The exact wording is in section 07.
How many recommendations do I need?
One is required and up to two may be submitted, through the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation. Johnson wants someone who can speak to your leadership, maturity, team orientation, analytical skills and interpersonal skills.
How does the Johnson interview work?
It is by invitation only, and Johnson says candidates must complete an admissions interview to be offered admission. You choose in person in Ithaca or on Zoom. The interviewer is the Admissions Team, MBA programs professional staff and/or a trained second-year MBA student.
Which round should I apply in?
Round 1 closed on 17th Sep 2026. Round 2 closes on 5th Jan 2027 and Round 3, the final deadline, on 6th Apr 2027. Johnson reviews applications on a rolling, space-available basis, and priority for scholarships goes to those who apply earlier.
How much does the Johnson MBA cost?
Johnson's 2026-27 tuition is $88,934 for the year, and its estimated cost of attendance for one academic year is $127,278. Its programme page shows Est. Total Tuition of $177,868 for the 2-year programme. The application fee is $250.
Can I get a scholarship?
Johnson considers every applicant for merit scholarships automatically, with no separate application. It says it has over $14 million in scholarship funds to award each year to new students and does not publish the share of students who get one. Consortium, Park, Forté and other awards are listed in section 03.
What are the pay and jobs like after Johnson?
For the Class of 2025, Johnson reports a median base salary of $175,000 and an average of $158,426, with an average signing bonus of $39,795 on top. It says 85% received offers and 83% accepted offers within three months of graduation. Its programme page says 95% employed, so its pages differ.