Skip to main content
Cornell University

Cornell Brooks Public Policy

How to Apply

Applying to Sloan

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:

  • Completed online application
  • GPA of 3.0 or greater on a scale of 4.0
  • Resume
  • Statement of purpose (instructions for this statement will be provided within the application portal)
  • Unofficial transcripts from all universities/colleges attended
  • Two letters of recommendation (at least one should be academic)

For international students whose native language is not English: TOEFL (minimum 106) or IELTS (minimum 7.5) scores must be submitted (exceptions to the English Language Proficiency requirement may be viewed here).

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 Cornell Graduate School application portal will open on August 15. Select “Health Administration, M.H.A.” as the academic program. The Sloan admissions committee will begin reviewing complete applications on August 15. Once an application is marked complete and has been reviewed by the admissions committee, qualified applicants will receive an invitation for a Zoom interview within 2 weeks. Following the interview and admissions committee vote, applicants will be notified of their admission status (admit, deny, hold for further review, waitlist) on their application round decision date (see rounds and dates below). 

The two-year MHA has several rounds of deadlines. The deadline applies for complete applications.

  • September 15, 2024 – Priority deadline. Apply during this round for priority consideration for Sloan financial awards and free hotel vouchers (shared occupancy) for Sloan Visit Day (hotel voucher by invitation only). Decision notification date: October 15, 2024.

  • January 2, 2025 – Round 2 deadline. Apply during this round for priority consideration for free hotel vouchers (shared occupancy) for Sloan Admitted Students Day (hotel voucher by invitation only). Decision notification date: February 15, 2025.

  • March 15, 2025 – Final deadline. Decision notifications will be made on or before May 1, 2025.

Sloan Visit Day

Sloan Visit Day is open to all accepted applicants from Round 1 and takes place on Friday November 8, 2024. We strongly encourage highly qualified applicants to apply to Sloan by September 15 to be considered for a limited number of shared occupancy hotel vouchers to participate in Sloan Visit Day.

Sloan Admitted Students Day

Sloan Admitted Students day takes place in early March and is open to all students admitted into the Sloan program prior to March 1. There will be a limited number of shared occupancy hotel vouchers available.

Monthly Admissions Webinars/Q&A

Register using the links below: 

 

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:

Optional materials:

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.