Learn hospitality at the only Ivy League school of its kind.
At the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, we’ve spent a century pioneering, reimagining, and perfecting hospitality education. Our AACSB-accredited degrees blend business rigor with deep expertise in hospitality, services, and real estate finance. Through world-class instruction and hands-on learning, you’ll join a proud Hotelie community of global leaders and innovators.
The Nolan School offers hospitality degrees and programs to fit any stage of your career, whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, or an executive professional seeking to sharpen your knowledge of a certain field or industry.
Our undergraduate program blends top-tier business and hospitality education with fun, hands-on experiences. Dive into real-world challenges, build industry connections, and get ready to lead in hospitality, real estate finance, and business.
Our master’s programs combine deep business training with hospitality expertise to accelerate your career and prepare you as an industry leader. Choose from Master of Management in Hospitality, MPS in Real Estate in collaboration with the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, Cornell-Peking MMH/MBA, or a MS or PhD in Hotel Administration.
Our Executive Master of Management in Hospitality (EMMH) offers experienced professionals a flexible education with an industry focus. Designed for working leaders, it combines advanced hospitality business skills with real-world insights, delivered through online and in-person sessions to fit busy careers.
At the Nolan School, you’ll gain more than just a world-class business education. Our Ivy League foundation, hands-on learning opportunities, and deeply connected university setting create a dynamic, career-shaping experience.
As the only Ivy League school focused on hospitality, the Nolan School offers a unique blend of business education and industry-specific expertise across all degree levels. Undergraduate and graduate students benefit from a curriculum rooted in hospitality, real estate finance, and services leadership. Hotelies deliver the ethos of service across every industry they touch.
Far beyond the classroom, undergraduates take part in immersive experiences like the Hotel Leadership Development Program (HLDP), Restaurant Management, and Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC). Graduate students engage in applied coursework, case competitions, global study trips, and executive-level simulations that integrate real-world challenges into their education—equipping them to lead with confidence and agility.
Nolan School students benefit from seamless access to Cornell’s academic resources—including the SC Johnson College of Business and its Centers and Institutes, Cornell Engineering, and the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate. This creates a unique environment where hospitality connects with tech, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and real estate, allowing students to shape their education around emerging industries and global trends.
At the Nolan School, students thrive with the support of inspiring leaders, world-class faculty, and a deeply connected alumni network. Together, they create a community dedicated to advancing hospitality through mentorship, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Dean Kate Walsh leads the Nolan School with deep industry and academic expertise. A respected scholar and educator, she has strengthened programs, expanded global reach, and shaped the future of hospitality education through innovation and strategic leadership—always with a student-centered focus.
Nolan School faculty are industry specialists whose research advances hospitality in areas like real estate finance, services management, and food and beverage. They are dedicated educators who prepare students to be emotionally intelligent, culturally aware, and skilled in service excellence.
Nolan School alumni are part of a strong, relationship-driven community—like a family—committed to supporting students through mentorship, hiring, speaking on campus, and giving back to sustain the school’s legacy of hospitality leadership.
Stay connected with the latest news and stories about the Nolan School community, research, and events. Explore how our faculty, students, and alumni are shaping the future of the hospitality business and beyond.
Meet Jessica V. Tracey, Nolan School lecturer specializing in hotel development, sustainable tourism and strategic financial management.
In 2006, Emil and Nikhil Damji, sons of Salim Damji '00, graced the cover of Hotelie Magazine. Now, they are incoming freshmen at the Nolan School.
This book highlights the civic participation and community engagement of women, from abolitionists to philanthropists.
See how the Nolan School has pioneered education and innovation in hospitality, the world’s largest industry. Situated in the heart of the Cornell campus, the Nolan School is set among the hills and gorges of Ithaca, NY, consistently named one of the best college towns in the US.
Start your path toward a fulfilling career in the world’s largest and most versatile industry. At the Nolan School, you’ll learn from dedicated faculty, gain practical experience, and be supported by the Hotelie community. With Cornell’s reputation and more than a century of leadership in hospitality business education behind you, you’ll have everything you need to launch a successful career in hospitality.