Cornell expands MSBA program with new NYC-based options
In a move that deepens its commitment to data-driven leadership and applied business expertise, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is expanding its Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) to include two new in-person options based in New York City.
The degree, which launched in May 2022 as an online program, will now be also available in person in two additional residential formats in New York City — a 10-month full-time option and a flexible evening part-time option.
With a curriculum created specifically for data-driven decision-making, the MSBA complements other business degrees by offering a focused, analytics-intensive program. In-person courses will take place at Cornell University’s Roosevelt Island campus in New York City.
Graduates from the MSBA online program, which includes two weeklong in-person residencies, have entered roles in industries including technology, health care, finance, and consulting. The new residential options in New York City expand access to students who prefer an immersive, in-person learning experience.
“This program will enable us to establish an even stronger base for the Johnson School in New York,” said Vishal Gaur, Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. “We’ve designed it to reflect our belief that business education should be symbiotic with industry: rooted in real-world challenges and embedded in dynamic economic ecosystems like New York City.”
Gaur emphasized that this expansion reinforces the college’s commitment to preparing professionals who can lead with data and AI in a wide variety of business environments.
“In any industry today, data science and business analytics are foundational to business success,” he said. “Professionals need to combine analytical acumen and business judgment, lead with technology, and work effectively across teams. This program develops those abilities, along with the persuasive and principled qualities that organizations look for.”
Across all three formats, students take the same rigorous business curriculum, built around a distinctive academic trifecta: advanced analytics and AI tools, core business foundations, and communication for leadership. Courses are taught by accomplished faculty who integrate academic theory with business application.
“To further customize their experience, students can pursue one of four concentrations —finance analytics, marketing analytics, operations and supply chain analytics, or business analytics — allowing them to align their coursework with specific career goals and industry interests,” said Young-Hoon Park, Sung-Whan Suh Professor of Management and academic director of the residential MSBA program.
Students take part in capstone projects and experiential courses where they work with real datasets to solve practical business problems. They learn to build predictive models, present strategic recommendations, and communicate insights to stakeholders at all levels.
“These hands-on learning opportunities give our students credibility, confidence, and the ability to create business value with data,” Park said. “Combined with exposure to New York’s business ecosystem and guidance from faculty, students graduate ready for a wide range of careers.”
Manoj Thomas, Demir Sabanci Professor of Marketing and Management and associate dean of New York City initiatives, added that the MSBA builds on Cornell’s growing presence in the city.
“This is part of our broader commitment to serving professionals in New York City,” Thomas said. “Cornell already offers executive and accelerated MBA programs based in NYC, and the expansion of the business analytics program enhances our ability to support rising talent across industries. We’re creating a cohesive portfolio that reflects the needs of today’s professionals.”
Alumni of the MSBA program have moved into roles such as business analyst, customer insights lead, product manager, and analytics strategist. Many have reported career acceleration and said the program’s proximity to major employers in New York City was a factor.
“Our program is very different from a generic analytics degree,” Gaur said. “It’s a rigorous graduate business program that helps students make data matter in practical and transformative ways.”
Learn more about Cornell’s Master of Science in Business Analytics