Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA)

• Business and Communications 

• • Microeconomics
  • Introduction to Finance Analytics
  • Introduction to Accounting Analytics
  • Introduction to Operations Analytics
  • Introduction to Marketing Analytics
  • Management Writing for Business Analytics
  • Management Presentations with Data
  • Conversations in Business Analytics

• Analytics
  • Probability, Statistics, and Inference
  • Data Management in SQL
  • Statistical Programming in Python
  • Machine Learning Applications in Business

• Customer Analytics

• Analytics for Demand Management

• Digital Business and Retail Operations

• Supply Chain Analytics
• Managerial Reporting for Business
• Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling
• Designing Data Products

• Teamwork and Collaboration – Ithaca, NY, June 10-14, 2024
• Capstone Sessions and Presentations – Cornell Tech, New York City – August 4–8, 2025

• A nonrefundable application fee of $105 must be submitted with your online application. An application fee waiver may be requested if you meet the following criteria:
  • You are a current or former United States military member
  • You are a current Cornell student or a recent Cornell alum and have graduated within two years of your application date

In either of these cases, please contact gradadmissions@business.cornell.edu for a fee waiver code prior to submitting your application. Please indicate in your message if you are a current or former United States military member or a current or former Cornell student.

Note: Fee waivers must be requested BEFORE you apply. We are unable to retroactively refund the application fee.

Successful applicants will have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Please submit transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended. Be sure to redact, cross out, or cover your Social Security Number if it is displayed on your transcript. You may submit unofficial transcripts with your application; however, should you be admitted into the MSBA program, we will request an official copy for verification.

• Transcripts should indicate:
  • All courses you have taken
  • Grades received in each course
  • Degree and the date it was conferred

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent international degree is required. Candidates who have earned or are on track to earn a degree that does not match the information found on the equivalency list in title or duration should strongly consider providing a credential evaluation with their application. World Education Services (WES) a third-party verification agency, can provide this service.

• Submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. If your transcript is not in English, please submit an official and certified English translation in addition to an original copy. World Education Services (WES), can provide this service. Transcripts should indicate all courses you have taken, grades received in each course, degree name, and date the degree was conferred. Candidates who are admitted and enrolled are required to provide the corresponding official transcripts before matriculation.

We require all candidates to upload their resume or CV. If you have updates to your resume after submitting your application, you are welcome to email an updated resume at any time during the admissions process.

Two letters of recommendation are required. At least one should be from a current or recent supervisor who can attest to your work-related skills. The second may be from either an academic or professional source.

• You will be required to enter the email or street address of your recommenders as you complete this portion of your application. Select the “online” option for your recommenders to receive an emailed invitation to submit their letters. It is your responsibility to ensure that all recommendations are submitted online by the deadline for the round in which you are applying.

Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe, within 500 words: (1) your academic interests, (2) your academic background, preparation, and training, including any relevant professional experiences, (3) your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in this specific program, and (4) your professional goals.

Describe (within 300-500 words) how your background and experiences influenced your decision and ability to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, provide insights into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together.

After you submit your application, you will be sent an email invitation to complete a video interview, where you will be asked to give short verbal responses to pre-recorded questions. Note, an invitation to the video interview will be sent automatically after submitting your application. Please monitor your inbox carefully as your application will not be considered complete until the video interview is submitted. The video interview is designed to assess your fit for the program and your communication skills. We advise that you use the most up-to-date version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to complete the video interview.

All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test scores. Test scores must be sent directly by the testing center.  All MSBA classes are delivered in English and require participation in class discussions, involvement in group projects, and intensive writing and reading. Successful candidates will have a full command of both spoken and written English.

• The MSBA program does not accept My Best Score reports for the TOEFL examination and requires applicants to meet the minimum sub-scores in speaking, reading, listening and writing set by the Cornell Graduate School.
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English tests must have been taken within two years of the application deadline. Duolingo English test scores should be sent to Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
• In some cases, these testing requirements can be waived. For more information on TOEFL and IELTS test score minimums, how to submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores, and the criteria for waiving the requirement, please visit the Graduate School’s website.
• IELTS and TOEFL Arrangements for COVID-19: If a safe in-person option is not available for you, you may submit results from one of the following at-home options.
  • IELTS Online
  • IELTS Indicator
  • TOEFL iBT® Home Edition

The name of your degree in your transcript and diploma from Cornell University is Master of Science in Business Analytics. There is no difference in the transcript and diploma between online and residential degree programs. Further, the academic policies, grading, number of credits, faculty teaching, academic rigor, etc. in this degree program are identical to what they would have been if Cornell University offered this degree as a residential program. The only difference is that we have designed this program to be delivered online as a part-time program for working professionals.

The online courses in Cornell’s MSBA degree program are delivered asynchronously, meaning you can access all your course work and materials at any time that fits your schedule within the course deadlines. In addition, every online course has regular live (synchronous) interaction with faculty and is taught in small sections of the same size as in a residential degree program. All courses are taught by Cornell Johnson faculty.

Students must select their concentration by the end of the second semester. The courses in the first two semesters consist of core business and analytics courses, which are common for all students regardless of their concentration.

Each concentration consists of 3 credits of concentration electives, 3 credits of capstone course and Conversations in Business Analytics course, and 6 credits of free electives. Students will take courses from other concentrations towards their free electives.

Students may audit a course on the Cornell campus. As in all audit cases, students require the permission of the respective instructor. Please note that you must complete 30 credits of degree requirements and an audited course does not count towards the degree requirements.

A student cannot exempt or waive a course. All students must take 18 credits of the core MSBA courses (including business, analytics, and communications core) and 12 credits of elective MSBA courses.

Yes. Cornell’s MSBA program is designed for working professionals. The amount of academic workload in this program averages about 20 hours per week to accommodate work commitments. Moreover, the program is delivered mostly through asynchronous online courses, so that students can study around their work commitments. We strongly encourage all students to pursue full-time employment while studying in this program, preferably in a business analytics-related career path.

After you’ve submitted your application, you can log into your Apply Web account and check the status of your application. If your application is incomplete, please refer to the checklist to determine which materials are missing. We encourage you to self-report English language proficiency scores (if applicable), monitor the status of your letters of recommendation and be sure to complete the video interview.

Cornell’s MSBA degree program is not eligible for an F-1 student visa for international students because the program is primarily delivered online.

Yes, Cornell offers limited merit-based scholarships for the MSBA program. There is no separate application requirement to be considered for a scholarship. All applicants, whether domestic or international, are automatically considered for a scholarship. However, due to the limited amount of funds available, applicants interested in a scholarship are encouraged to apply in early rounds.

You are encouraged to attend the Virtual eCornell Keynotes that occur weekly. We may also recommend remedial courses or other readings for admitted students if necessary. We suggest you to get some rest before the program starts because your life will get busy when classes begin as you manage the rigors of a full-time job and the MSBA degree program.