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 (within the SC Johnson College of Business) is the world's #1 ranked hospitality business school — founded 1922, the original hospitality management programme on a US Ivy League campus, and the benchmark against which every other hospitality programme is measured (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Four Seasons all run dedicated Cornell recruiting events annually). The 1-year MMH is the Nolan School's flagship Master's, combining MBA-style core (finance, operations, marketing, strategy) with hospitality electives — revenue management, hotel real estate finance and investment, food and beverage operations, restaurant management, and hospitality-tech. The Statler Hotel on campus is operated by the school as a teaching property; students rotate through hands-on operational projects.
Sri Lankan applicants from BMS, NSBM, BMS Edexcel pathway, SLIIT Business, or hotel-school backgrounds typically apply with 2-4 years of hotel / airline / F&B work experience. Cornell MMH carries a STEM designation in some tracks (Hotel Real Estate / Analytics concentration is STEM-tagged) — 36-month OPT eligibility if pursued via the analytics specialisation. Median MMH starting salary USD 90,000-110,000; placements consistently into Marriott International Voyage, Hyatt Corporate Management Trainee, IHG, Hilton Executive Development, Four Seasons GM Track, Accor luxury division, and hospitality investment banking (JLL Hotels, HVS, CBRE Hotels Advisory, Brookfield).
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Bachelor's (Hons) in Hospitality, Business, Economics, Finance, or any quantitative discipline — Second Upper (GPA 3.3+) or higher.
- check_circle Sri Lankan local degrees (Colombo, Kelaniya, J'pura, Sabaragamuwa Hospitality) all accepted; SLIIT Business / NSBM / BMS Edexcel pathway strongly represented.
- check_circle Minimum 2 years of full-time hospitality / business / consulting work experience — the average admitted student has 3-4 years.
- check_circle GMAT 680+ or GRE 320+ (Q160+, V155+) recommended but waivers available with strong academic record / Ivy League undergrad.
- check_circle Two professional references; Statement of Purpose; resume/CV.
- check_circle Video essay (Kira interview) as part of the application.
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 Speaking, 21 Writing).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall.
- check_circle PTE Academic: 70 Overall.
- check_circle Duolingo English Test: 120 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan applicants from Colombo, Kelaniya, NSBM, SLIIT, BMS qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (USD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (1 year, 3 semesters) | USD 85,500 | Rs. 27,360,000 |
| Living Expenses in Ithaca, NY (12 months) | USD 22,000 | Rs. 7,040,000 |
| Health Insurance & Mandatory Fees | USD 4,500 | Rs. 1,440,000 |
| Books, Industry Trips & Travel | USD 3,500 | Rs. 1,120,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS & Application Fees | USD 850 | Rs. 272,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | USD 116,350 | Rs. 37,232,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for 12 months F-1 OPT (24-month STEM extension if completed via the analytics-tagged track — 36 months total). Cornell MMH graduates are the most heavily recruited hospitality cohort in the world: Marriott International (Voyage Global Leadership Development Programme — fast-track to GM), Hyatt Corporate Management Trainee, Hilton Executive Development, IHG, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Aman Resorts, Six Senses, plus hospitality real estate at JLL Hotels, HVS, CBRE Hotels Advisory, Brookfield Hospitality, Blackstone Hospitality Portfolio. Median post-MMH salary USD 95,000-115,000 (LKR 30.4M-36.8M/yr); bonus 10-20%. Sri Lankan returnees take rapid-progression senior management posts at Cinnamon Hotels (Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside, Cinnamon Wild Yala), Jetwing, Aitken Spence (Heritance Kandalama, Tea Trails), John Keells Hotels, Anantara Tangalle / Anantara Peace Haven, Six Senses, Soneva. Strong network into hospitality consulting, investment banking, and luxury-brand strategy.
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