Overview
A 17-month dual-degree program delivered via live video-conferencing to boardrooms across the Americas, combining the strengths of Cornell University and Queen's University.
About Cornell-Smith
Based in US/Canada, Cornell-Smith draws applicants who want an EMBA built around their existing career rather than a break from it. Multi-campus and joint programmes run their teaching across several countries, which is what makes them attractive to senior leaders whose roles already span regions.
Why Cornell-Smith stands out
Every school on a shortlist claims excellence; what matters is the specific edge you would actually use. For Cornell-Smith, that edge is concrete — Earn two MBA degrees: one from Cornell University (Ivy League) and one from Queen's University.
- Earn two MBA degrees: one from Cornell University (Ivy League) and one from Queen's University.
- 17-month program with classes held every other weekend.
- Unique 'Boardroom Learning' format: Live interactive video classes in small teams across 20+ cities in North and South America.
- Three residential sessions: Two in Ithaca, NY (Cornell) and one in Kingston, ON (Queen's).
- Access to two powerful alumni networks totaling over 60,000 graduates.
The EMBA at Cornell-Smith
A part-time or modular Executive MBA for senior managers and leaders who keep working full-time while studying on weekends or in intensive blocks.
EMBA Americas — an executive-format MBA taught alongside full-time work, delivered in US/Canada.
Who is eligible
What the committee looks for
- Strong academic record demonstrating quantitative proficiency.
- Commitment to a rigorous team-based learning environment.
Tests & admission requirements
- GMAT or GRE is not mandatory for most applicants but may be requested to demonstrate quantitative proficiency.
- The admissions committee reviews the entire profile (work experience, academic record) to determine if a test is needed.
Most candidates are admitted without a GMAT/GRE based on their professional track record.
What you'll submit
- Online Application
- Resume/CV
- Two Professional References
- Official Transcripts
- Personal Statement/Essays
- Application Fee ($150)
Focus on your leadership experiences, career goals, and how you will contribute to the team-based learning environment in your local boardroom.
How the process works
- Preliminary Assessment (Resume Review)
- Submit Online Application
- Admissions Interview (Zoom or Phone)
- Admission Decision (Rolling Basis)
Application timeline & prep
- Build your profile (12–18 months out)
Map your story to what Cornell-Smith actually values, and close obvious gaps in leadership evidence, academics or career progression before you apply.
- Take your tests (9–12 months out)
Typical expectation: GMAT or GRE is not mandatory for most applicants but may be requested to demonstrate quantitative proficiency. The admissions committee reviews the entire profile (work experience, academic record) to determine if a test is needed. Most candidates are admitted without a GMAT/GRE based on their professional track record.. Book early enough to allow one retake without missing a round.
- Shortlist and visit (6–9 months out)
Compare Cornell-Smith against 4–6 peer programs on placement in your target lane, net cost and location. Speak to current students and alumni — admissions teams notice informed applicants.
- Essays and recommendations (3–6 months out)
Draft essays that make one coherent argument for why this program, why now. Brief your recommenders with specific stories rather than adjectives.
- Submit and interview
Apply in the earliest round you can be genuinely ready for — earlier rounds usually mean better admission and scholarship odds. Prepare interviews around your own application, not a script.
- Decision, funding and visa
Leave 3–4 months post-admit for scholarship negotiation, financing and your US/Canada student visa.
Fees, scholarships & ROI
Cornell-Smithsets fees by intake and cohort, so we don't quote a figure here. Ask admissions for the current total, and budget separately for travel, accommodation during residencies, and any modules taught abroad.
Modular international formats carry travel and accommodation costs on top of tuition, and employer sponsorship covers part of the bill for a large share of participants. Merit scholarships, external fellowships and — for executive formats — employer sponsorship can materially change the arithmetic, so build your shortlist around net cost, not sticker price.
When you model ROI, count all three costs: tuition, living expenses, and the salary you give up while studying. Then set that against the realistic post-EMBA salary in your target lane — not the program-wide average, which blends high-paying and low-paying paths. A shorter format or a strong scholarship often beats a marginally higher-ranked school on this arithmetic.
Get a realistic read on your Cornell-Smith chances
A free 1-on-1 evaluation of your profile against recent Cornell-Smith EMBA admits — where you stand, what to fix, and which rounds to target.
Careers after the Cornell-Smith EMBA
Graduates of EMBA programs like Cornell-Smith's typically move into C-suite readiness, P&L leadership, board roles and career pivots at the senior level.
Treat the careers office as a channel, not a guarantee: the students who convert a EMBA into the outcome they wanted start recruiting from week one, use alumni for referrals rather than information, and arrive with a story that explains why this exact role is the logical next step. The brand opens the door; preparation walks through it.
Rankings & outcomes
EMBA Americas is ranked #56 in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025. The figures below come from that ranking and describe the surveyed cohort — treat them as a directional read on outcomes, not a promise.
- #56
- Overall rank
- $233,669
- Salary today (US$)
- 59%
- Salary increase
- #65
- Career progress rank
- 68%
- Aims achieved
- #45
- Alumni network rank
Insider tips
- Choose your 'Boardroom' location early, as seats in specific cities can fill up.
- Highlight your ability to work in teams, as the program relies heavily on the boardroom team model.
- Demonstrate how you will balance the rigorous bi-weekly schedule with work and personal commitments.
How we help you get in
Gain insights from two top-tier business schools with distinct teaching styles and networks.
Develop deep relationships with your local boardroom team while networking globally.
Studying in Global: work rights & visas
Multi-country programmes are usually taken while you keep working, so post-study work rights rarely apply. Where a residency component sits in a country you are not authorised to work in, the school arranges short-stay study visas — confirm the specifics for each module location. Work-rights certainty is often the biggest single factor in whether an international degree pays back, so weigh it alongside rankings and cost.
Day to day, you'll be based in US/Canada — factor its housing market, commute and cost of living into your budget alongside tuition, because they differ sharply between college towns and major capitals.
- Teaching delivered across several countries and campuses
- Cohorts drawn from multiple regions and industries
- Designed to be taken without leaving your current role
How Cornell-Smith compares
Rankings compress a dozen dimensions into one number; your decision only needs three — placement strength in your target lane, net cost after scholarships, and the location where you want to build a network. Start your comparison with W. P. Carey, Audencia, EMLyon Business School — each leads in a different lane.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tuition fee?
The total tuition is approximately $194,346 USD (subject to change), covering tuition, books, meals, and accommodation for residential sessions.
How does the boardroom format work?
You attend classes every other weekend in a designated boardroom in your city with a team of 5-10 peers, connected via live high-definition video conferencing to professors and other boardrooms.
What degrees do I receive?
You receive two separate MBA degrees: one from Cornell University (Johnson) and one from Queen's University (Smith).
Ready to apply to Cornell-Smith?
Work 1-on-1 with mentors who've guided admits into Cornell-Smith and its peers — from shortlist and tests to essays, interviews and scholarships.