Executive MBA programs are designed for experienced working professionals seeking to earn an MBA and continue their careers at the same time. The Cornell Executive MBA programs feature classes every other Saturday and a half-day Sunday, allowing students to balance work, life, and MBA commitments.

Graduates of a Cornell EMBA program earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. At Cornell, we award one MBA degree with multiple program options designed to meet the needs of people at different stages of their careers. Learn more about the differences between our MBA and Executive MBA programs.

Executive MBA students are evaluated in many ways. Cornell Executive MBA students should be prepared to spend approximately 15 to 20 hours a week on coursework. Depending on the course and professor, they may be evaluated through exams, quizzes, papers, presentations, or other assignments designed to demonstrate mastery of the course content.

Determining the value of an MBA is a highly personal decision. Most executive MBA students have clear career goals and have determined that an MBA is an important and necessary step to accomplish those goals.

EMBA programs are designed for working professionals who have had steady career progression over several years. Admissions committees typically review a candidate’s career progression, academic readiness, team and leadership abilities, and motivation to complete the program. Executive MBA students come from a variety of industries and professional backgrounds, adding important diversity of thought to the classroom.

Cornell offers three Ivy League Executive MBA programs designed for leaders who want to grow while continuing to work. Each program delivers live weekend classes, a forward-thinking curriculum, and access to Cornell’s global alumni network of more than 325,000 professionals.

Learn about tuition for each program:

• • EMBA Americas tuition

• • EMBA NYC tuition

• • EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership tuition

Our Cornell EMBA students are experienced, ambitious professionals with a range of educational backgrounds and industry expertise. At the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, we take a holistic approach to the admissions process. We review each application individually — from work history to personal essay — and consider qualities and characteristics such as:

• Career progression
• Academic readiness
• Collaboration skills
• Motivation and commitment

We get lots of questions about the Cornell EMBA acceptance rate; yes, our programs are selective. Your admissions materials—especially your essays—give you an opportunity to show us your best. Learn how to apply, or explore our selection criteria to learn more about our admissions consideration factors and priorities.

As you prepare to apply to a Cornell EMBA program, carefully review the application requirements for your program of choice. While admissions materials vary, a few are common to all programs:

• • Academic transcript

• • Letters of recommendation

• • Admissions essays

• • $200 application fee (U.S.D)

Test scores are optional. You are not required to submit standardized test scores as part of your EMBA application materials.