An Ivy League Executive MBA program designed for experienced, working professionals leading teams, shaping strategy, and navigating AI-driven transformation in today’s evolving business landscape.
Ranked #1 Alumni Network among NYC-area MBA programs (Financial Times, 2025).
Learn alongside accomplished executive peers across finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, and other leadership-intensive fields, on Cornell’s modern tech campus in New York City. This weekend-based, in-person program is built for leaders who want to deepen their impact, expand their influence, and grow with confidence without stepping away from their careers.
Classes meet on alternating weekends (Saturday/Sunday), just minutes from Midtown Manhattan, allowing you to continue leading at work while investing in your long-term leadership trajectory.
There’s no need to pause your career or step out of the market to earn an Ivy League MBA. Cornell’s EMBA Metro NYC program is designed for experienced leaders who want to strengthen their strategic perspective, enhance their executive presence, and lead with clarity in an era defined by technological and organizational change.
Each cohort brings together senior professionals across industries who are already driving results and preparing for broader responsibilities, larger teams, and enterprise-level decision-making.
You’ll learn in an environment that values thoughtful dialogue, diverse perspectives, and collaborative problem-solving defined by insight and prudent judgment.
Choose a leadership focus that matches your professional direction and long-term goals. Develop depth where it matters most to your future as an executive. Select from two pathways designed for senior-level advancement:
An MBA from Cornell University
Classes every other weekend (Saturday and half-day Sunday) with four weeklong residential sessions in Ithaca, NY, and one weeklong international immersion
22 months; classes begin in July
You’ll join a close-knit, high-caliber cohort with broad functional depth and leadership experience. What begins in the classroom quickly becomes a trusted circle of peers you’ll rely on for perspective, insight, and opportunity long after graduation.
This Ivy League network, grounded in mutual respect and intellectual rigor, will challenge you constructively and champion your professional growth.
Choosing an executive MBA in New York City means learning at the center of global business innovation. With Cornell, you’ll pair Ivy League rigor with an engaging, in-person experience and turn your new ideas and insights into Monday-morning impact.
Executive-Friendly Program Format
Our alternating, weekend format is designed to accommodate executive life, preserving the immersive value of in-person learning. On-campus meals and coordinated logisticsallow you to focus fully on the experience of deep learning, dialogue, and strong relationships.
Convenient and Accessible Campus
Study on Cornell’s Roosevelt Island campus just minutes from Midtown Manhattan with easy access by subway, ferry, car, bus, or the iconic aerial tram. It’s a modern, purpose-built Ivy League setting in the center of NYC’s business life.
Rich Academics and Expert Instruction
Learn from Cornell’s award-winning faculty through a rigorous, integrated leadership curriculum. Through the AI Leadership Pathway and Executive Leadership Pathway, you’ll develop the latest essential skills for senior leadership.
Immersive Experiences, Coaching, and Mentoring
Four weeklong residencies at our Ithaca campus deepen your connection to the Cornell community and provide time for reflection and development. A global project adds international context, and one-to-one executive coaching plus mentoring provides leadership confidence and professional impact.
From taking smarter risks to leading larger teams, our students and alumni describe how their Executive MBA experience strengthened their decision-making, broadened their perspective, and accelerated their growth, both professionally and personally.
With an Ivy League curriculum taught in NYC on a structured weekend schedule, you’ll build general-management depth, develop fluency in AI and emerging technologies, and strengthen your leadership presence across complex organizations.
This program prepares today’s leaders to respond to and guide change thoughtfully and responsibly.
Built for executives, the curriculum integrates advanced management training with real-world application, combining strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, ethical leadership, and technological fluency.
You’ll gain both the analytical tools and the leadership perspective required to operate effectively at the enterprise level.
Build business knowledge and strengthen your leadership skills through a sequence of EMBA courses, including:
Customize your studies with electives that align with your professional interests and career goals. A sample of recently offered electives:
Apply what you’ve learned through the Innovation & New Venture Creation team project.
Throughout the semester, you’ll gain entrepreneurial skills as you and your classmates generate ideas, conduct market research, develop a business plan, and form a management team. The project culminates with a final presentation—a pitch to a panel of professionals.
During your final semester, you will participate in a weeklong immersion in a global market. You’ll meet with business executives and tour companies and take in cultural sites and landmarks.
Destinations vary, but recent locations have included:
You’ll be guided by Cornell’s distinguished faculty who combine academic excellence with practical expertise. They’ll challenge, support, and remain a lifelong resource as your leadership responsibilities grow.
The program includes four weeklong residencies at Cornell University’s main campus in Ithaca, NY, that deepen cohort bonds and accelerate growth through classes, simulations, leadership development, and curated networking to strengthen your connection to the broader Cornell community.
Residencies also offer time for off-campus exploring. While you’re upstate, you can visit our local restaurants and attractions and experience the breathtaking scenery of the Finger Lakes region.
You’ll stay at the Statler Hotel, one of Ithaca’s premier lodging options and the Ivy League’s only teaching hotel. Part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the Statler is a Cornell tradition, a leader in hospitality innovation, and a true example of real-world learning in action.
Another benefit of earning your executive MBA in New York City is the caliber and diversity of your peers.
You’ll engage with senior professionals across industries and functions, broadening your perspective and strengthening your decision-making.
In the classroom and beyond, you’ll build relationships rooted in trust, intellectual curiosity, and shared ambition, creating connections that will continue to add value throughout your career.
Students graduate from the Cornell EMBA Metro NYC program prepared for their next professional challenge. Here’s what a few of our recent graduates had to say about their experience:
Natarajan Nellicherry ’20, IT director
“I realized an MBA program would provide me the opportunity to learn general administration concepts of running a business, beyond my targeted technology domain knowledge. … The emotional, interpersonal, and team-building learnings were readily applied to my day-to-day work needs.”
Dina McAfee ’18, Financial consultant
“This program really delivers on the message ‘When you come here, you are here’ by removing the distractions and putting you in a unique and safe environment. The network here, especially the alumni, are amazing and very accessible.”
Cornell Business News features program updates, profiles, and the latest accomplishments of EMBA Metro NY students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
Career Corner: Healthcare marketing professional Deepika Cattry pivoted from R&D at a nonprofit to marketing at a major biopharmaceutical firm.
Meet the founders of the 29 startups selected to participate in this year’s Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator.
Career Corner: Financial services executive Vanessa Di Frances pivoted from product manager to bank VP advising fintech startups.
Our admissions process is personal and holistic. Beyond your transcript and résumé, we look for evidence of leadership, impact, and readiness to thrive in a rigorous, collaborative, Ivy League environment while balancing full-time work, home life, and graduate study.
Before you apply, take a few minutes to complete a pre-qualification form. We’ll confirm program fit and share personalized guidance on the most efficient next steps.
*Pre-qualification does not guarantee enrollment.
Our team is here to help. Start the conversation by requesting information, scheduling a campus visit, or registering for an EMBA admissions event.
A Cornell EMBA Metro NYC degree is an investment in yourself. Explore tuition, deposits, and payment schedules, and speak with us about employer sponsorship and financial aid options.
We are currently accepting applications for our July 2026 program start. Application deadlines occur monthly.
The next application deadline is February 15, 2026.
Considering an Executive MBA in New York City? Join an upcoming MBA for Executives Information Session, a campus Open House preview, or a networking reception to meet our team and experience the community.
We assembled a few common questions (and their answers) to help you learn more about our program, such as the time commitment, engagement opportunities, lodging and transportation details, and what else to expect while earning your MBA part-time in New York City.
Ready to move forward? Start your application or get pre-qualified and take the next step toward an MBA designed for leadership at the highest levels.
What next? We encourage you to start the application process! You’ll begin by starting an account at the Johnson School admissions portal.
In addition to our executive MBA in New York City, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management offers two other EMBA programs: our internationally focused Cornell EMBA Americas program, offered in real-time from more than 20 locations in five countries, and a New York City-based dual degree program geared toward healthcare leaders.
Ideal for professionals who want an Ivy League MBA without relocating or putting their career on hold, this program allows you to learn alongside international classmates from one of 20 locations across North and South America—or online from home.
Designed for those wishing to lead change and drive innovation within a healthcare organization, our dual EMBA/MS in Leadership is offered in collaboration with the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
