M.S. in Hotel Administration
Prepare to teach, lead and innovate in the exciting hospitality management field.
Share your passion for hospitality with the next generation of hotel leaders. Teaching at the university level is often a natural next step for executives in any industry. A master’s degree prepares you for careers in academic research and can be a stepping stone to the Ph.D. program.
Why the Nolan School for your Master’s in Hotel Administration?
The Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration offers a research-rich graduate program in its Master of Science in Hotel Administration. As the first school of its kind in the United States — and the only one in the Ivy League — the Nolan School has set the standard for hospitality education. We continue to innovate in the field by expanding our research, curriculum and programs.
Innovation
Our premier hospitality centers and institutes — the Center for Hospitality Research and the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Leadership — provide groundbreaking industry insights.
Collaboration
As a part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the Nolan School gives students the opportunity to collaborate on research with peers and faculty across the college’s schools, programs and centers.
Connection
Our worldwide Hotel School alumni base is more than 16,000 strong and Cornell’s alumni network is a global force of more than 360,000. Strong industry partnerships expand our international reach.
Hotel administration academics
As an M.S. student, you’ll gain specialized knowledge and build solid research skills through an enriching, rigorous curriculum.
Foundational coursework
Hone your quantitative and qualitative research skills with a variety of modeling, statistical, and econometrics courses. M.S. students align their methods classes with their area of interest — HR, marketing, real estate, finance, operations or technology.
Specialization areas
Customize your curriculum by choosing elective credits from across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and throughout Cornell University. Students focus on areas such as financial management, marketing, operations and real estate.
Thesis
Receive close faculty mentorship as you embark on deep graduate-level research thesis. The program culminates with a final exam for M.S. students. You might even have a chance to publish or present your work.
What’s the difference between our hospitality graduate programs?
The Nolan School’s hospitality graduate programs have a lot in common: a world-class faculty, cutting-edge facilities and immersive learning experiences.
The main difference between the M.S. in Hotel Administration and the Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) is that the MMH prepares you for industry, and the M.S. prepares you for academia. As you explore your options, keep your ultimate professional goals in mind.
Master of Science in Hotel Administration
The M.S. degree is researched-focused and requires a master’s thesis and final exam. Many students in this program continue on to related Ph.D. programs at top-tier schools, including the Nolan School.
Master of Management in Hospitality
The MMH is industry-focused and prepares students for leadership roles in a range of hospitality and real estate specialties. This program requires an internship and offers many other real-world learning experiences.
How to apply to the M.S. program
Our M.S. in Hotel Administration program is highly competitive and rigorous. Ideal candidates will have an exceptional academic record, relevant industry experience and clear professional goals. If earning a Master’s in Hotel Administration feels like the right fit for your next academic endeavor, we invite you to learn more about eligibility requirements and the admissions process. Our M.S. admissions page will give you all the details you’ll need to start your application.
M.S. admissions timeline
New M.S. students are admitted each fall semester. Our application period for both programs runs between September 1 and December 15.
September 1
Applications open
December 15
Application deadline
Tuition and financing
Earning a graduate degree is an investment in your future self; the cost of attendance and financing options vary from program to program. M.S. students may be eligible for federally subsidized student loans, which help cover the cost of tuition and living expenses during the residential program.
A community built on hospitality
As a graduate student at the Nolan School, you’ll become part of a collaborative learning community united by a passion for hospitality and service. This welcoming feeling extends across the SC Johnson College, where you’ll interact with graduate students from a range of programs.
Our school
For more than a century, we’ve been innovators in hospitality education and industry leadership. Our graduate faculty are deeply committed to research and teaching, and our alumni are making a difference around the world.
Our campus
We’re located on Cornell University’s beautiful campus in the vibrant college town of Ithaca, New York. The heartbeat of the Nolan School is the Statler Hotel, a full-service luxury hotel that serves as a learning lab for our hospitality students at all levels.
Our expertise
Our renowned faculty members are among the world’s foremost scholars and practitioners in hospitality, real estate, financial services and technology. As mentors, they guide graduate students through their theses and dissertations.
Cornell Business News
Five questions for Chris Anderson
In a recent article, “The Perils of Algorithmic Pricing,” Christopher Anderson of the Nolan School discusses why pricing algorithms matter for a variety of industries.
Ithaca Hummus founder Chris Kirby named 2026 Cornell Hospitality Innovator
Chris Kirby ’15, founder of Ithaca Hummus, is named 2026 Cornell Hospitality Innovator and will be honored June 2 in NYC for leadership and impact.
Hospitality competition winner plans to expand restaurant into a chain
Master’s student Avery Sheppard won $25,000 to put toward her fish and chips eatery by winning the Nolan School’s hospitality business plan competition.
Hospitality sweet: Hotel Ezra Cornell celebrates a century
From a servers’ race to invitations sent via pigeon, Nolan School students showcase their talents to an evolving industry.
FAQ: Questions about our M.S. program
You have a lot to consider as you research and compare graduate hospitality programs. In this section, we answer a few of the most common questions from M.S. applicants, including test score requirements, what the program entails and available support resources.
Applying to the Nolan School
If you’ve reviewed our admissions requirements and think you’re a fit for our welcoming yet rigorous academic community, we invite you to begin your application to our M.S. program today.
To get started, simply register or log in to the Cornell Graduate Admissions website.