We look forward to reviewing your application. Please read this page in its entirety as information about the application process and deadlines has changed.
Sloan’s application process is rigorous and competitive and begins with a holistic review of each student’s application by rotating Sloan faculty and directors. Applicants who demonstrate qualities we value such as academic excellence, leadership, creativity/innovation, determination and resiliency, ability to work successfully in cross-disciplinary and/or diverse teams, attention to detail, strong interpersonal and professional skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, personal and professional integrity, compassion and empathy, passion for improving the field of health care, and a commitment to equity and social justice in healthcare management will be invited for a required first-round Zoom interview with a member of the admissions committee and current student admissions ambassadors.
Past experience shows us that cohort diversity and complementary group dynamics are important drivers of student success and wellbeing, as well as success on the internship and job markets and in the field. As the applicant pool evolves with each approaching notification deadline, second- and third-round individual and/or group interviews may be requested of applicants.
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applications from individuals with bachelor’s degrees from a variety of backgrounds (the bachelor’s degree must be from an accredited university and earned prior to matriculating). Full time work experience and health care experience (whether full time, volunteer, part time, or internships) are preferred but not required. Given our commitment to equity and holistic application review, the GRE examination is no longer required. In order to demonstrate your academic readiness for rigorous and quantitative graduate education coursework, successful completion (e.g., B or better) of one or more of the following prerequisite courses is preferred (see list below).
Prerequisite courses that may bolster your application:
Introductory and/or a higher level statistics course (introductory statistics is highly recommended)
Introductory courses in accounting, finance, data-driven decision making/quantitative analysis, data analytics, financial modeling, intermediate database analysis and management (eg. Excel, SQL, Tableau, etc.), math-based microeconomics
Experience with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are highly recommended (first-year students are given priority enrollment in an Excel desktop modeling elective course)
Other eligibility criteria/application requirements:
GPA of 3.0 or greater on a scale of 4.0
Resume
Statement of purpose
Unofficial transcripts from all universities/colleges attended
Two letters of recommendation (at least one should be academic)
TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable. Visit the Graduate School Admissions site for more information regarding the English language proficiency requirement, including standing exemptions.
Applicants with questions about eligibility may reach out to sloan@cornell.edu.
Please click on the individual degree programs below for program-specific eligibility criteria, additional application requirements, and link to apply.
Application Deadlines
The residential MHA application is now closed and will reopen on September 1, 2025.
How to Apply
Standard Two-Year MHA
Two-Year MHA Application Process and Requirements
The Sloan Program admits students for fall matriculation to the two-year MHA degree program (Sloan does not admit students for spring or summer matriculation). Students apply directly to the Cornell University Graduate School here: gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/apply/ Use “Public Policy – Health Administration MHA” as the proposed field of study.
Required application materials, all students:
Online application and $105 application fee (fee waivers due to financial hardship or for students in designated pipeline programs may be requested – see the Graduate School link above)
Unofficial transcripts from all universities attended (upload a single PDF document directly into application portal)
Resume (upload as PDF directly into application portal)
Statement of purpose (essay and upload instructions provided in application portal)
Two recommendation letters (at least one should be academic; provide recommender contact information in application portal)
Additional requirements for international students:
Proof of English proficiency: For international applicants whose native language is not English, either TOEFL (minimum 106) or IELTS (minimum 7.5) must be submitted. See test submission instructions and exception policy.
Taking the GRE or GMAT is not required. Students who wish to optionally submit GRE or GMAT scores may do so by sending them directly (GRE score reporting: Graduate School Code 2098; Institution Code 2098; GMAT score reporting: Cornell U. MHA Code 2104) or by uploading an unofficial PDF of the score report in the application portal.
For information about the MHA application process, please contact our Sloan admissions team at sloan@cornell.edu.
Three-Year Dual MHA/MPA
Three-Year Dual MHA/MPA Application Process and Requirements
Admission to the dual MHA/MPA program is through the Cornell Graduate School online application. Applicants must apply to the MPA program and indicate clearly in the Statement of Purpose the application is being submitted for application to both the Brooks School MPA Program and Sloan. The MPA Program will begin the review process and then forward eligible applications to Sloan for concurrent, but separate, review. Applicants must be admitted to both the MPA Program and Sloan separately. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Due to the intensive, specialized nature of this program, a minimum of 1-2 years of prior, relevant experience will be expected of all applicants to this program.
Students who are interested in applying to the dual MHA/MPA program should contact the MPA admissions team, at mpa@cornell.edu to discuss eligibility.
Accelerated Five-Year BS/MHA
Accelerated Five-Year BS/MHA for Cornell University undergraduate students in specified majors only.
Application Process and Requirements Eligible students apply to Sloan during their junior year.
Cornell juniors with the following majors may apply:
Human Development
Public Policy
Human Biology, Health, and Society
Health Care Policy
Global and Public Health Sciences
Nutritional Science
Step 1. Verify your eligibility for the program with your student advisor. Students in eligible majors must be able to complete all College and major required coursework by the end of the junior year. First year MHA courses then satisfy senior year bachelor degree electives.
Step 2. Apply to the Sloan Program online using Cornell Graduate School application. Select the Fall 2026 Term. In addition to the standard application requirements, please include a recommendation from your undergraduate advisor attesting to your: In addition to the standard application requirements, please include your undergraduate advisor as your third recommender. The letter of recommendation from your undergraduate advisor should attest to your:
Ability to complete major requirements by the end of your junior year
Maturity and professionalism
Aptitude for completing a graduate degree program
Additional relevant information, special circumstances
The deadline for your application to the Sloan Accelerated BS/MHA Program is January 2nd.
Applications received after January 2nd but before March 15th will be reviewed on a rolling basis subject to space availability.
