Cornell Tech MBA Review: A Cutting-Edge Program Bridging Business and Technology

• NBAY 6550 Programming for Data Analysis – 2 Credits (Summer)

• NBAY 6150 Demystifying AI Technologies – 0.5 Credits (Summer)

• NBAY 5300 Entrepreneurial Finance – 1.5 Credits (Spring)

• TECH 5900 Product Studio – 4 Credits (Fall)

• TECH 5910 Startup Studio, TECH 5920 BigCo Studio or TECH 5930 PiTech Impact Studio — 3 Credits (Spring)

• TECH Studio Elective — 1 Credit (Spring)

  Please note: TECHIE prefix classes do not qualify as Studio electives

All Studio courses must be taken for a letter grade.

• 9 Credits must come from NBA, NBAY, NCCY, NMI (Fall & Spring)

• 9 Credits selected from any offerings on Cornell Tech’s campus (CS, ECE, ORIE, INFO, LAW, NBA, NBAY, TECH, TECHIE) (Fall & Spring)

• Credit Load:

  • Minimum of 12 credits per semester required.

  • Recommended to enroll in an average of 15 credits per semester.

  • Maximum of 20 credits per semester, unless approved by Faculty Program Director (granted only in exceptional cases).

    
    

• Graduation Requirements:

  • Minimum of 50 credits to graduate.

  • Must meet all outlined program requirements.

    
    

• Grade Options:

  • Up to 2 courses may be taken as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) if grade options are available.

  • Courses that are S/U-only do not count toward the 2-course limit.

  • Must earn at least a B grade in TECH 5900 or TECH 5910/5920/5930.

  • Minimum passing grade is D- for all other degree-counting courses.

    
    

• Directed Reading:

  • Maximum of 6 credits allowed.

  • No more than 3 directed reading credits per term.

    
    

• Academic Standing:

  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7 overall.

  • Must have at least a 2.5 GPA in core NCCY courses.

    
    

• Residency Requirement:

  • Complete 3 semesters of residency at Johnson/Cornell Tech.

  • Residency = enrolled in at least 12 credits in a semester.

    
    

• CPT Credit Note:

  • TECH 5999 (Curricular Practical Training) does not count toward graduation or degree requirements.

• TECH 5900 Product Studio – 4 Credits (Fall)

• TECH 5910 Startup Studio, TECH 5920 BigCo Studio or TECH 5930 PiTech Impact Studio — 3 Credits (Spring)

• TECH Studio Elective — 1 Credit (Spring)

  Please note: TECHIE prefix classes do not qualify as Studio electives

All Studio courses must be taken for a letter grade.

• Core Requirements:

  • Students must complete all Johnson Core requirements before starting at Cornell Tech.

    
    

• Credit Load:

  • 60 total credits required to graduate.

  • Of these:

    • 45 credits must come from Johnson courses (NCC, NBA, NBAY, and required TECH courses).

    • 15 credits may come from other fields (CS, ECE, INFO, LAW, ORIE, or elective TECH courses).

  • Students may not enroll in more than 20 credits per semester without prior approval from the Program Director (granted only in exceptional cases).

    
    

• Grading Policies:

  • Students may take up to 2 grade-option courses as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U).

    • Courses that are only available as S/U do not count towards this limit.

  • Must earn at least a B grade in TECH 5900 or TECH 5910 / TECH 5920 / TECH 5930.

  • Minimum passing grade is D- for a course to count toward degree requirements.

    
    

• Special Credits:

  • A maximum of 1.5 credits from Managerial Skills and Leadership Programs (NMI 5050) can count toward graduation.

  • Students may take a maximum of 6 directed reading credits, with no more than 3 per term.

    
    

• Academic Standing:

  • Must maintain at least a 2.7 GPA overall.

  • Must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in core courses.

  • Students not meeting these GPAs will not be in good academic standing.

    
    

• Residency Requirements:

  • Students must complete 2 semesters of residency at Johnson and 2 semesters at Cornell Tech.

  • A residency semester is defined as being enrolled in at least 12 credits.

1. Online Application

• Submit a separate online application for the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA.

• Note: Applications are not transferable across Johnson MBA programs.

  
  

2. Academic Records / Transcripts

• Upload transcripts from each previously attended university.

• Include proof of Bachelor's degree if not stated on transcripts.

• Official transcripts not required at time of application.

• Send official transcripts to:

  • Email: admissions@tech.cornell.edu

  • Post: Cornell Tech Admissions, 2 W Loop Rd, New York, NY 10044, USA

• Transcripts must be sent directly from the academic institution to be considered official.

International Students:

• Must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from a recognized U.S. organization (e.g., WES, ECE, SpanTran, Scholaro, or other NACES members).

• Evaluation must be sent to admissions@tech.cornell.edu.

• Required before application review begins.

• All fees for evaluation must be borne by the applicant.

3. English Language Proficiency (International Applicants)

• Submit one of the following if English is not your first language:

  • TOEFL: minimum score 100 (code: 2098)

  • IELTS: minimum 7.0 overall band (sent to Cornell Tech e-download)

  • Duolingo: send scores to “Cornell Tech – Graduate Admissions”

• MyBestScore is not accepted.

• Check waiver eligibility per Johnson’s policy or email admissions@tech.cornell.edu.

4. GMAT / GRE

• Test scores are optional through a waiver request in the application.

• Submit a 100-word justification if requesting a waiver.

• If not approved, a score will be required for the application to proceed.

• Submit highest score only.

  • GMAT code: 5JW-BM-64

  • GRE code: 8296

5. Resume

• Include:

  • Professional history (with dates)

  • Academic background

  • Skills & relevant activities

• Applicants should have 2–3 years of tech-related work experience.

• Limit to 2 pages.

• Applicants with 8+ years of experience should apply to the Executive MBA.

6. Personal Statement (Max 700 words)

• Double-spaced, 12-point font.

• Must answer:

  • Why a 1-year tech-focused MBA instead of a 2-year MBA?

  • How your professional & academic background supports your career goals?

  • What is the most important trait of a digital-age leader?

  • What else should the committee know about you?

• Disclosure of AI tools (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) is mandatory if used.

7. Letter of Recommendation

• Submit 1 professional recommendation (2 allowed if applicable).

• Must come from:

  • A current/former supervisor or manager.

  • Entrepreneurs may submit one from a co-founder, long-term client, or previous supervisor.

• Avoid choosing colleagues or clients unless you run your own company.

• Must be sent from a professional email address.

8. Application Fee

• Non-refundable fee: $200 required to submit application.

For Questions: Email admissions@tech.cornell.edu.

All finalists are invited to participate in a 30-minute video interview with a member of the Admissions Committee. In-person interviews are not offered.

No specific preparation is required for the interview. The committee aims to evaluate each candidate’s problem-solving abilities and gain insight into how their prior work experience will contribute to their success in the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program.

Interviewed candidates typically receive an admissions decision within two to three weeks of their interview.

A key differentiator of the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA is its innovative Studio curriculum. This hands-on approach challenges students to develop solutions to real-world problems at the intersection of technology and business. Working in cross-disciplinary teams with peers from other graduate tech programs, students tackle challenges faced by existing companies or launch new ventures aimed at addressing market or societal needs—closely mirroring today’s collaborative workplace environment.

The greatest change experienced by MBAs entering the workplace in recent years is that technology is the bedrock of any industry today. To be a successful leader requires an integrative understanding of collaborative technology, business, and society, making tech and STEM MBAs essential to firms and markets.