J.D./MBA Dual-Degree
Combine legal expertise with business leadership
Earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.) and an MBA to develop the legal, financial and strategic perspective needed to lead across corporate, entrepreneurial and regulatory environments.
- Schedule
- Full-time, Dual degree
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Ithaca, NY
- Start
- August
- Requirements
- Admission to both programs
- Degree Awarded
- Juris Doctor (JD) + Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- This program is part of
- Johnson Graduate School of Management
J.D./MBA Dual-Degree
Business decisions increasingly intersect with regulation, corporate governance, negotiation, intellectual property, finance and risk management. The Cornell J.D./MBA dual-degree program prepares students to operate confidently across both legal and business environments, combining the analytical rigor of the Cornell Law School with the leadership and management training of the Johnson School.
Whether pursuing corporate law, entrepreneurship, consulting, finance, real estate or executive leadership, students develop a broader decision-making perspective that connects legal strategy with business execution. The program is designed for individuals who want to move beyond specialization and lead within increasingly complex organizations and industries.
Why choose Cornell?
Cornell’s J.D./MBA combines two distinguished Ivy League programs within one university ecosystem. Students benefit from close faculty access, interdisciplinary learning and a connected alumni network that spans business, law, entrepreneurship, technology and finance.
Two elite schools
Law + business expertise
Accelerated option
Earn both degrees faster
Interdisciplinary learning
Legal + strategic thinking
Close faculty access
Intimate, collaborative environment
Entrepreneurial ecosystem
Innovation and venture access
Flexible career paths
Multiple industries and roles
Powerful alumni network
Cornell connections worldwide
Why this matters now
Organizations increasingly need leaders who understand both business strategy and legal complexity. From mergers and acquisitions to intellectual property, corporate governance, regulation and entrepreneurship, decisions often require legal and business fluency at the same time. This dual degree of two complementary and elite degrees will prepare you to navigate that intersection with broader perspective and stronger decision-making capability.
Program snapshot
The Cornell J.D./MBA provides graduate students the opportunity to integrate legal education with advanced business training within a highly collaborative academic environment. Students complete coursework across both schools while developing analytical, financial, negotiation and leadership capabilities that apply across industries and sectors. The program attracts students interested in corporate law, consulting, entrepreneurship, finance, real estate and executive leadership, creating a cohort shaped by diverse professional goals and interdisciplinary thinking.
Connecting business and law
Curriculum overview
The J.D./MBA curriculum combines legal education with MBA coursework in leadership, finance, strategy, operations, marketing and organizational management. Students complete foundational coursework in both programs before integrating electives and advanced study aligned to their professional goals.
The program emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, negotiation, corporate decision-making and analytical problem solving. Students can explore interests spanning entrepreneurship, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, intellectual property, consulting, finance and real estate.
Where this degree takes you
Many graduates of the program pursue leadership-track roles in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, restructuring, consulting and highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, technology and real estate.
They enter the workforce with a skillset that allows them to evaluate risk, structure deals, guide organizational decisions and navigate complex corporate environments. Some pursue careers as M&A attorneys, corporate restructuring advisors, investment and regulatory specialists, consultants, entrepreneurs or executives leading organizations through growth and transformation.
Admissions process
Students apply simultaneously to both programs. Applicants already enrolled in either the Law School or MBA program may also apply to the dual-degree program during their first year, depending on the selected timeline option.
Applicants must submit separate applications to the Johnson School and Cornell Law School.
September, October, January & April
Johnson School application deadline rounds
January, March & July
Law chool application deadline rounds
Your path forward
Whether your goals include corporate law, entrepreneurship, finance or executive leadership, this program, this dual-degree program prepares you to lead with broader perspective and greater influence. Start your application today.