The World’s Premier School for Hospitality Business
Learn the business of hospitality at the only Ivy League school of its kind.
At the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, we’ve spent over 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’s Industry-Leading Hospitality Business Programs
The Nolan School offers hospitality degrees and programs to fit any stage of your career, whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student or a professional seeking to sharpen your knowledge in a certain field or industry.
Undergraduate Program
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.
Graduate Programs
Our master’s programs combine business education with deep hospitality expertise to accelerate your career and prepare you as an industry leader. Choose from a Master of Management in Hospitality, a Master’s of Professional Studies in Real Estate in collaboration with the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, Cornell-Peking MMH/MBA, or a MS or PhD.
Executive-Level Education
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.
An Ivy League Education, Real-World Experience, and Cornell University Resources
You’ll gain more than a world-class business education at the Nolan School. Our 100-year-old foundation combined with hands-on learning opportunities and deeply connected learning setting creates a dynamic, career-shaping experience.
Hospitality-Focused Business Education
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.
Experiential Learning
Far beyond the classroom, undergraduates take part in immersive experiences like the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, Hotel Leadership Development Program (HLDP), 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.
Interdisciplinary Access Across Cornell
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 David A. Duffield College of 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.
Leadership, Expertise, and Community at the Heart of Nolan
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.
Leading Innovation in Hospitality Education
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.
Instructors, Practitioners, and Researchers
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.
A Lifelong Community: Nolan Alumni Invest in Your Success
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.
Cornell Business News: Nolan School News & Insights
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.
Nolan School alumni reinvest in culinary education
While patrons relax and enjoy panoramic views of The Ithaca Campus at Establishment, Cornell’s student-run restaurant, the undergraduate head chef leading service in the Grailer Food Lab faces one of […]
Renovated food lab goes fully electric, embracing induction technology
The renovated Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hospitality Grailer Food Lab is one of the country’s first fully electric teaching kitchens, marking the Cornell SC Johnson College of […]
Future restaurateurs sharpen their skills in remodeled food lab
After two years of renovations, the Grailer Food Lab has reopened with a more real-world commercial kitchen and all-electric appliances
Build Your Future in Hospitality at Cornell’s Nolan School
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.