This program is open to current Cornell undergraduatestudents.
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
You may apply to the accelerated program during your junior year, but only after completing all required courses for both your major and your College.
During your senior year, you would attend Sloan orientation and complete first-year Sloan courses, which are double counted, to satisfy both undergraduate elective requirements as well as MHA graduate requirements.
At the end of your senior year, you would graduate with a bachelor’s degree in your undergraduate major.
You would be required to participate in a graduate-level health administration internship during the summer before entering the graduate program. The following year, as a graduate student, you would complete the second year of required Sloan courses and earn a Master of Health Administration degree.
Students often ask:
What degrees will I end up with if I become a 5-year Bachelors/MHA student?
At the end of your four undergraduate years (the senior year taking Sloan graduate courses) you will earn a Bachelors degree. At the end of the fifth year (the second year of Sloan graduate courses and the first year as a matriculated student in the Cornell Graduate School) you will earn a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree.
At what point should I apply to the program?
Although you will not formally apply until your junior year, begin discussing your interest in the 5-year program with your advisor during your first or second year to ensure you are on track with the required coursework. You are also encouraged to connect with the Sloan MHA program to discuss course selection that will strengthen your preparation and competitiveness. In your junior year, you must apply by the MHA application deadline; applications submitted after the deadline will be considered only if space is available.
When would I apply to the Cornell Graduate School?
You would apply to the Graduate School in your junior year. (The application is online and the deadline is January 2nd.) Please select the term that corresponds to the year you would be a graduate student, e.g. select Fall 2026 if applying as a junior in Spring 2025.
Do I have to take the GRE or GMAT exam to apply?
No, GRE or GMAT are neither required nor considered in the admissions process.
What level of academic performance is required for admission to the Graduate School as an Accelerated Program student?
You must meet Sloan’s standards for satisfactory academic progress, which include: (a) earning a grade of C or higher in all required Sloan courses, except for PUBPOL 5951 and PUBPOL 5952, which require a grade of B or higher; and (b) maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Is there an internship/residency requirement for the MHA?
Yes, there is a 10-week internship/residency requirement between the senior year and the graduate school year.
What if I am in the 5-year program and have not maintained a 3.0 or better GPA?
If you have a GPA below 3.0 and/or a core course grade below C in your first semester, you have a semester left prior to graduate school to bring your GPA up to a 3.0 and/or retake any course in which you have received less than a C. In any event, as long as you meet requirements for your undergraduate degree, you can still finish out your senior year and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree.
The MHA portion of the BS/MHA program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Health Management Education (CAHME). The Bachelor portion of the BS/MHA program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
