If you want to be the best, learn with the best. At the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, we’ve been pioneering, reimagining, and perfecting hospitality management for a century, pushing boundaries in the pursuit of excellence. Our AACSB-accredited hotel administration degree immerses you in a business education infused with the spirit of hospitality — an unforgettable experience combining classroom instruction with hands-on practice, and the only Ivy League program of its kind. You’ll join the ranks of our proud Hotelie community, which includes foremost hoteliers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, travel gurus, and technologists in the largest, most exciting industries around the globe.
Check here for critical announcements from the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
Landmark gift establishes Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel AdministrationA historic $50 million gift from Peter Nolan ’80, MBA ’82, and Stephanie Nolan ’84 will establish the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
The Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration’s Commitment to AntiracismDean Walsh outlines preliminary action items for The Nolan School, which include new training requirements and seminars, curriculum improvements, and a commitment to improve Black representation in industry-focused programming.
Welcome Back to CampusWelcome students, faculty, and staff! We’re thrilled to have our community back on campus after successful remote semesters. Stay up-to-date on how all of us on campus can keep each other safe from COVID-19.
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Simply put, our hospitality management programs provide the greatest student experience you’ll find out there: A thorough business education and a life-changing experience, backed by Cornell SC Johnson College of Business expertise and Ivy League educational excellence. If you have creativity and a passion for service, we’ll help you develop skills, knowledge, and an unmatched network to succeed in your career of choice.
“I chose to attend The Nolan School because of its world-class instruction, alumni network, and great post-graduation opportunities. The Nolan School is the best hospitality school in the world not just because of what we learn but how we interact with other students, professors, and alumni.” – Hannah MacDonald ‘22
“I really like how The Nolan School encourages independent work and exploration. I wasn’t sure what field I wanted to go into, but opportunities like HLDP, working at Statler, and the hands-on experience attached to the course work allowed me to explore different areas of the industry.” – Jenniviv Bansah ‘22
“Through the exposure to fields like finance, real estate, and development in my classes and clubs, I was able to unlock a different career interest. Having such a wide variety of opportunities for career and professional development has truly allowed me to explore so many fields that I had no knowledge of prior to Cornell.” – Kyra Roach ‘22
Service Excellence in All They Do
The Nolan School alumni are a powerful, global network of more than 15,000 Hotelies in every imaginable hospitality industry, united by their dedication to making a difference in others’ lives through service excellence. Whether they work in technology, real estate, food and beverage management, hotel management, or other fields in the business of hospitality, they are leading with innovation, emotional intelligence, and a passion for service.
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. Access Bachelor of Science, Master’s, PhD, and executive education custom and online program offerings below.
Our signature Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration undergraduate AACSB-accredited degree offers a variety of hospitality management courses, including real estate, marketing, finance, operations, and more.
Your entrée into a fulfilling career in the world’s most exciting industry, our hotel administration degree is a rewarding, fully rounded student experience that melds classroom instruction with relevant hands-on experience to put your learning into practice. The full-time, residential program is conducted on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York.
Our unique, Ivy League master’s programs seamlessly tie a rigorous business education into the context of hospitality, accelerating your career in hospitality, and preparing you to become a leading force in the industry. The Nolan School’s master’s programs include a Master of Management in Hospitality, Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate, and Master of Science in Hotel Administration. Or, take your MS degree in Hotel Administration one step further with the PhD in Hotel Administration. Time requirements of these individual graduate degrees vary.
Experience Cornell excellence, with carefully focused content designed specifically for the global hospitality professional. Whether you want to study as an individual or sign up a team from your organization, we guide you through the process and ensure you find the perfect program for your unique needs.
To provide you with the highest level of convenience, we offer three modes of instruction. Choose classroom programs on Cornell’s campus, where you can network with industry peers and world-class Cornell faculty. Select online learning to study and network with peers from around the world. Or opt for custom programs to tailor content to your organization’s specific needs — you can study on the Cornell campus, or have our faculty teach at your facility.
Nolan School faculty are distinguished industry specialists and thought leaders who focus directly on research that benefits the hospitality industry, whether it’s real estate, finance, services management, human resources, food and beverage management, or organizational behavior. Expert and caring instructors, they prepare students to be emotionally intelligent, culturally aware, skilled, and technologically proficient professionals dedicated to delivering service excellence.
Designed to promote industry growth and enrich the educational curriculum, The Nolan School’s six centers and institutes provide exceptional opportunities for students to work directly with our corporate members via research and internships, putting their learning into practice: Center for Hospitality Research, Center for Real Estate and Finance, Cornell Center for Innovative Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations, Cornell Institute for Food and Beverage Management, Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures, Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Leadership.
Daniella Senior and Elizabeth Tilton joined Lilly Jan to discuss ongoing strategies for improving the culture of the food and beverage industry.
Hotelie Hunter Friedland ’19, founder of Cirona Labs, credits Cornell’s entrepreneurship ecosystem for helping him to build and launch his startup.
Center for Hospitality Research and Medallia crowdsource ideas for making travel seamless
Visit us or take a virtual tour to see how our school of hospitality can transform your life and set you on course to an exciting, rewarding career. Experience the culture of an Ivy League university and see how The Nolan School has pioneered education and innovation in hospitality, the world’s largest industry. Situated in the heart of the beautiful Cornell campus, The Nolan School is located among the hills and gorges of Ithaca, consistently named one of the best college towns in the US.
Take the first step toward a rewarding, fulfilling career in the world’s largest and most versatile industry. Experience The Nolan School’s expert instruction, hands-on learning, outstanding student experience, challenging but caring faculty, and loyal Hotelie community. Add Cornell credentials and our century of shaping hospitality education, and you have the best start to your adventure in hospitality management.
