About 60 percent of our student body is international. To accommodate specific needs and ensure a smooth transition to American culture, Cornell has a well-established network of programs that cover everything from immigration and housing to financial and social supports. These services are provided by the International Students and Scholars Office.

MPA Application Process

The residential MPA application for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open.

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your native language, you will need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam unless you are an international student who has studied at least two years at a college or university in a country where English is the native language and instruction is provided in English. Required minimum scores on the TOEFL exam are: writing 20, listening 15, reading 20, and speaking 22. Our field requirements for the IELTS exam are an overall score of at least 7.0.

For more information on how to submit your TOEFL and IELTS exam scores, please view the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency Requirement page.

Admitted Students: Certifying Funds

Should you accept an offer of admission, you will receive an email inviting you to complete the Admission Supplement for International Students. This email will include an estimate of your annual expenses and provide you with the amount of funding that you will need to certify for visa purposes. Upon completion of the Admission Supplement, you will be enrolled in the Cornell Graduate School, and its admissions team will issue your I-20 or DS-2019 (if applicable). For more information about certifying funds and the 1-20 process visit the Graduate School’s admitted student information page.

Be sure to include with your application your contact information. MPA Admissions will not communicate with a third-party about the status of your application and will not accept applications prepared by paid agents or other third-parties.