MPS in Management (MPS-M)
Have an undergraduate degree in an area other than business? In under a year, you can boost your business acumen and gain practical business experience with top academics, faculty expertise and community support.
- Schedule
- Full-time, 10 months
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Ithaca, NY
- Start
- August
- Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Total Cost
- $73,946
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Professional Studies
- This program is part of
- Johnson Graduate School of Management
MPS in Management
A Business Master’s for non-business majors
Graduates are entering a job market where expectations are higher, competition is stronger and employers expect you to understand how business works from day one. How you start your career matters and it shapes what comes next.
The Cornell Master of Professional Studies in Management is a one-year program designed for recent graduates with undergraduate degrees in areas other than business. who want to build a strong business foundation and move confidently into professional roles. You’ll develop fluency across core business functions like strategy, analytics and leadership, while gaining the skills, experience and Ivy League edge top employers look for.
Why choose Cornell?
At Cornell, you gain the business skills to move forward and the network to take you further. It’s a combination of top academics, deep connections and global reach that will set you apart.
Ivy League business foundation
Rigorous academics with application
Small, engaged cohorts
Strong relationships and personalized learning
Industry connections
Through alumni, events and career resources
Integrated college model
Access to three top-ranked business schools
Global reach
Worldwide network supports your career goals
Unparalleled alumni network
250,000+ worldwide
Why this matters now
Early career decisions have a lasting impact. The roles you begin with, the skills you build and the direction you choose can shape your entire trajectory.
Without a business foundation, many graduates spend their first years learning under pressure and often advance later than their peers. This program creates a structured way to build that key foundation before you enter the workforce.
Program snapshot
The MPS in Management introduces the core disciplines of business while emphasizing practical application and professional readiness. You’ll interact with world-renowned faculty known for their hands-on teaching, small class sizes and high engagement.
Along with business fundamentals, you’ll build capability across analytics, economics, marketing and operations and while developing the skills needed to navigate recruiting and career decisions for those early in their journeys.
You’ll work on real-world projects and engage directly with faculty and industry perspectives building not just knowledge, but the ability to apply it in professional settings from day one.
Where this degree takes you
Graduates enter roles across consulting, finance, analytics, marketing and corporate strategy, often through rotational programs or direct placement into functional teams. With 89% securing employment within six months, the program positions you to contribute earlier and progress more quickly in your career.
Along the way, you build the skills employers value most: understanding how organizations operate, contributing to business decisions, communicating with clarity and working effectively across teams and functions. You graduate with both the business foundation and the critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities needed to succeed in today’s competitive market.
Learning to lead with confidence
The MPS in Management program provides our students with the foundational business education needed to pivot into the industry while providing a close-knit community and hands-on faculty mentorship. While you’re here, you’ll build meaningful, lasting relationships with your classmates and professors. Hear directly from our students why they chose Cornell.
Explore the journey
The MPS in Management is designed for students from non-business backgrounds who want to build business expertise and accelerate into new industries. The journey below highlights how one student leveraged the program to pivot into hospitality and launch a career with one of the world’s leading hospitality companies.
“The program helped me become well-versed in finance, accounting, and strategy, among other things. Such an opportunity certainly helped make me a competitive applicant during recruiting season.”
Thomas Lovett, MPS-M
From career exploration to hospitality leadership
Thomas entered the program after identifying a new interest in hospitality and recognizing the need for stronger business foundations.
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Building business fundamentals
- Developed skills in finance, accounting, strategy and management.
- Applied business concepts through real-world projects and case discussions.
- Strengthened leadership and communication skills.
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Career exploration
- Leveraged Cornell’s recruiting resources and employer connections.
- Explored opportunities across the hospitality industry.
- Built relationships with classmates, faculty and alumni.
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Today: Corporate Rotational Analyst, Hilton Worldwide
Thomas launched his career with Hilton, applying the business knowledge and strategic perspective gained through the program to a global hospitality organization.
Curriculum overview
The curriculum introduces the core functions of business and how they work together. Our STEM designation means you’ll find analytics, databases, AI and other technologically driven tools and practices covered throughout. The STEM designation also allows eligible F-1 international students to pursue a two-year OPT extension, enhancing employability in the U.S.
You develop skills in:
- Financial analysis and decision making
- Strategy and business fundamentals
- Marketing and customer insight
- Operations and execution
- Data-informed thinking
Electives and immersive experiences that match your professional interests are also available to you either in the Johnson Graduate School of Management, the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
You can further tailor your experience through electives across disciplines aligning your academic path with your specific interests and career direction.
Career outcomes
The Cornell MPS in Management prepares graduates for early-career roles across finance, consulting, technology, marketing and general management. Graduates are recruited by globally recognized employers including Amazon, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, EY and KPMG, reflecting the program’s strength in analytical problem-solving, business fundamentals and career readiness.
86%
received job offers
within 6 months of graduation
$83,675
average base salary
for U.S.-based jobs
81%
accepted positions
in North America
Admissions deadlines
Applications open in September with four-round deadlines April thru May. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early in the cycle for priority admissions and scholarship consideration.
September
Application opens
December 1
Round 1 deadline
January 15
Round 2 deadline
March 1
Round 3 deadline
April 15
Round 4 deadline
MPS in Management FAQs
Your path forward
The Cornell MPS in Management prepares you to enter the workforce with the knowledge, confidence and direction to move forward.