Graduate FAQs

• Official TOEFL/IELTS scores – Send scores to Cornell University Graduate School, Institution Code 2098. Department codes are not used for matching scores to applications; if ETS requires you to select a department code, you may choose “undecided” or “not listed”.  Detailed information regarding requirements and exceptions to this requirement are described here.
• Unofficial copies of transcripts uploaded into the graduate school application.
• 2 letters of recommendation. For additional letters of recommendation, applicants should ask recommenders to send a PDF copy of their letter to Dyson-MS-PhD@cornell.edu and the letter will be uploaded into your application.
• Academic Statement of Purpose (ASOP)- Detailed information regarding the ASOP can be found  here.

Hard copy materials do not need to be sent at the time of application. If admitted into the graduate program, applicants will receive correspondence indicating what items are required and by what dates they need to be submitted.

All PhD applicants will be considered for financial support. Financial support may be in the form of a teaching assistantship (TA), fellowship, graduate research assistantship (GRA), or a combination of these three.

The MS program is a self-funded program.  MS applicants may be considered for financial support, though the majority are admitted without a guarantee of support. Even if they are not admitted with a guarantee of support, some MS students do obtain funding for the MS degree program through hourly TA or GRA positions.

MS and PhD: December 15 (applications should be complete on this date)

Yes, financial support information should be included in the application. External scholarships of support can enhance your chances of admission.

We accept all bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions in the United States, even those that are completed in 3 years. For international degrees, we follow the guidelines of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers when considering which degrees are equivalent to a bachelor’s degree obtained in the United States. This usually means that 4 years of study are required, though some 3-year degrees can be accepted. International degree equivalencies are provided here. If you still have questions after reviewing the international degree equivalencies, please Contact Graduate Admissions.

Admitted applicants usually have a GPA in excess of 3.50 (4.00 scale), and generally score above the 85th percentile in each category of the GRE. Grades in mathematics and economics classes are considered much more carefully, as is the quantitative portion of the GRE. It is crucial that applicants write a well-defined statement of purpose that clearly identifies their research interests and how their interests relate to current research being conducted by members of the graduate field faculty.

Yes, all applicants rejected from the PhD program can be considered for admission to the MS program at the applicant’s request.  No separate application is needed.

Incoming PhD applicants are required to have a thorough knowledge of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and quantitative methods. All applicants must have a thorough knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, and at least two semesters of advanced mathematics, including a course in real analysis. Math classes, such as differential equations, mathematical probability and statistics, optimization, and stochastic differential equations, are also good preparation for the PhD program. All of these classes should have a grade of B or better at the time of matriculation. Applicants who do not have this academic background are unlikely to be admitted into the PhD program, but will be considered for admission to the MS degree program.

Applicants to the field of applied economics and management do not have to major in agricultural economics, applied economics, or economics as undergraduates to be considered for admission to the MS program. Students with undergraduate specializations in finance, marketing, management, and related business specializations are also welcomed to apply. However, any deficiencies in preparation will lengthen the graduate program. Applicants are preferred to have completed calculus, algebra, statistics, econometrics, and intermediate-level microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory at a higher than 100 level.

On average, 10 PhD and 40 MS students are accepted each year.

All applicants should be notified by e-mail at the end of February or beginning of March.

April 15.

Yes, this is typically held each year in the 3rd week of March. We encourage applicants to visit during this time. If admitted students are unable to visit during this time, please schedule a separate visit with the Dyson Graduate Program.  Please allow a minimum of two weeks’ notification of your plans to visit.

Yes. Both the MS and PhD in Applied Economics and Management degree programs are STEM-designated.

For international students, the STEM designation offers an additional benefit. If approved by the USCIS, optional practical training (OPT) provides many F-1 visa students with the opportunity to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months, gaining valuable experience related to their field of study. Students graduating from STEM designated programs may apply for a 24-month extension to their post-completion OPT, potentially providing up to 36 months of temporary employment in the U.S.

Cornell University recently has been made aware of fraudulent activity targeting overseas students and researchers, including at least one third party website falsely stating that it is offering a postdoctoral or visiting scholar program in association with Cornell. These scams, which may seek to obtain money and/or personal details from interested applicants, are fraudulent. 

Cornell wishes to warn the public about these fraudulent activities being perpetrated purportedly in the name of Cornell, and/or its officials. Please be advised that: 

• Cornell does not, nor has it, worked in collaboration with third-party companies or organizations to offer postdoctoral or research certificate programs.
• Third parties do not collect tuition or fees on behalf of Cornell.
• Cornell does not work with or endorse such organizations including, but not limited to, Shanghai Lufei Education Technology Co., Ltd. (Chinese name: 上海璐斐教育科技有限公司) and Shenzhen Guoyan Era Education Technology Co., Ltd. (Chinese name: 深圳市国研时代教育科技有限公司).

Cornell’s postdoctoral positions are listed on the Academic Career Opportunities website and postdoctoral fellowship programs are available for viewing. If you suspect a third party of falsely advertising a Cornell program, please notify globaloperations@cornell.edu. Victims of such scams may also report them to their local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

The most recent positions taken by our graduate student alumni are listed on the Dyson website.

All new Ph.D. students need to identify the chair of their Special Committee by the end of the first year. M.S. students will need to identify their chair before the end of their first semester. The director of the graduate program facilitates this process by organizing times for faculty to meet informally with admitted students and discuss their research interests.

On average, most students finish the PhD program in 5 years.

Most students typically complete the MS degree in 2 years.