USA · Bachelor's
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Course Overview
The Nolan School at Cornell (originally founded as the School of Hotel Administration in 1922) is the world's #1 ranked undergraduate hospitality programme by every major industry ranking. Now housed within the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, the BSHA combines a liberal arts core with finance, real estate, marketing, operations, and law applied to the global hotel and hospitality industry. The Statler Hotel — a fully operational 153-room property on campus — serves as a teaching laboratory; students rotate through every department over their four years.
For Sri Lankan applicants this is the apex hospitality target — admission rates sit at 8-10% and grads place into hotel REIT analyst roles at Goldman, JP Morgan, Eastdil; investment roles at Blackstone Real Estate and Brookfield; and executive-track placements at Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and Four Seasons. Recent SL alumni have moved from the BSHA into senior asset-management roles across Dubai and Singapore by their mid-30s.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A Levels: 3 A*s or AAA (Cornell sets no formal cutoff but accepted profiles trend top-2%).
- check_circle IB Diploma: 40+ points typical for admits.
- check_circle SAT 1450-1560 or ACT 33-35 (test-optional through 2026 cycle but recommended for international applicants).
- check_circle Two teacher recommendations + counsellor reference; Common App essay; Cornell-specific supplemental essays.
- check_circle Optional alumni interview if available in your region.
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 W, 22 R, 22 L, 22 S).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.5 Overall (min 7.0 in each band).
- check_circle Duolingo: 130 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your secondary qualification was completed in English at an accredited school for at least 4 years (most Sri Lankan applicants from Edexcel/Cambridge International streams qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount ($) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | $70,000 | Rs. 22,400,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Ithaca) | $22,000 | Rs. 7,040,000 |
| Health Insurance & Fees | $5,500 | Rs. 1,760,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS, Travel & Setup | $2,500 | Rs. 800,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment (before financial aid) | $100,000 | Rs. 32,000,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for 12 months of F-1 OPT (Hotel Administration is not STEM-listed, so no 24-month STEM extension). Strong pathway into hotel-REIT analyst seats (Goldman, JP Morgan, Eastdil Secured), hospitality private equity (Blackstone, Brookfield, Starwood Capital), and executive-track roles at Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Four Seasons, Accor. Median starting salary for Nolan BSHA: $75,000-90,000.
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