US · Master's
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH)
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Course Overview
Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration is the founding hospitality school of the Ivy League — established in 1922 as the world's first university-level hospitality programme. The Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) is its flagship one-year graduate degree, with an optional 2-year track that adds a paid summer internship. The 36-credit programme covers real estate finance, revenue management, food & beverage operations, hospitality marketing analytics, asset management, and strategic leadership — taught in the Statler Hotel (a working 4-star hotel run by the school) on the Cornell Ithaca campus.
Sri Lankan applicants choose Cornell because the Nolan School alumni network is unrivalled — Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, Marriott CEO Tony Capuano, and every major hotel C-suite from Asia-Pacific runs through this school. The MMH leads directly into senior management roles at Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, IHG, Accor, and the hospitality consulting arms of HVS, JLL, and CBRE. Graduates qualify for 12 months of OPT and most secure H-1B sponsorship through major hotel groups.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Bachelor's (Hons) in any discipline — minimum Upper Second-Class (2:1 / GPA 3.3+); hospitality background NOT required.
- check_circle Minimum 1-2 years of relevant work experience (hospitality, real estate, finance, consulting, or service industry) preferred but exceptions made for fresh graduates with strong leadership records.
- check_circle GRE OR GMAT score required (median admitted GRE: 320; GMAT: 660). // VERIFY 2026 testing requirement — Cornell has waived in some past cycles.
- check_circle Two professional / academic references; personal statement; video essay through the Kira system; CV.
- check_circle Application rounds: Round 1 (October), Round 2 (January), Round 3 (April).
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 25 in Reading, Listening, Speaking; min 27 in Writing).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 7.0 in Speaking and Writing).
- check_circle Duolingo English Test: 120 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English in a country where English is the official language — Sri Lanka does not automatically qualify; case-by-case decision.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (USD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (1-year programme) | USD 83,000 | Rs. 26,560,000 |
| Living Expenses (12 months, Ithaca NY) | USD 22,000 | Rs. 7,040,000 |
| Health Insurance, Books & Fees | USD 5,500 | Rs. 1,760,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS & Application Fees | USD 850 | Rs. 272,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (1 year) | USD 111,350 | Rs. 35,632,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for 12 months of OPT on completion (non-STEM). Cornell MMH grads place into Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, IHG, Accor, HVS Consulting, JLL Hotels & Hospitality, CBRE Hotels, and into private-equity hotel investment teams at Blackstone and KSL Capital. Sri Lankan returnees route into Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts (John Keells Group), Aitken Spence Hotels, Heritance, Hayleys Travels & Leisure, and Resplendent Ceylon at GM / Director level. Median post-MMH salary: USD 92,000 (LKR 29.4M/yr); top-decile placements exceed USD 130,000.
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