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Frequently Asked Questions

The Professional Master's degree program is a course-based, master’s graduate degree program. It is a fully accredited program, registered with New York State Education Department and SUNY.

  • Top-ranked institution with world-renowned faculty
  • Wide range of study areas
  • Completed in one year
  • Capstone project

While both the MPS and MS degree are graduate level, master’s degrees, there are specific differences:

 MPS/MFS/MEngMS
FormatCourse-basedResearch-based
Final ProjectCapstone projectThesis
Length1 yearTypically 2-3 years
FundingSelf-funded, usually with federal  and/or private loansFunded by the department with  stipends and teaching  assistantships
Ideal ForIndividuals who want to pursue careers in industry, government, or non-profit agencies; some continue in researchIndividuals who are interested in pursuing careers in research or academia

 

Through coursework, team projects, and workshops, the program expands your versatility and career skills. You will work with your advisor and the Office of Professional Programs and Extended Learning to identify the courses that best suit your needs.

The Office of Professional Programs and Extended Learning host an engaged learning series that focuses on developing career skills including:

  • Developing resumes and personal narratives
  • Mock interviews
  • Team-building workshops
  • Business dining etiquette
  • Personality assessment tools

The MPS/MFS/MEng/MLA is intended for individuals who are seeking a course-based master's degree so as to go into business, industry, or government work.

At Cornell, if you want to continue into a PhD program after a Professional Master's degree, you must apply as a new student to the PhD program. You would be considered as part of the pool of PhD applicants and, if admitted, you might be able to apply some of your coursework but there is no guarantee. The target time for completion of the PhD program is between 3 and 5 years; the actual time to completion varies by student.

The 2025-2026 tuition rate is $46,658 for the CALS MPS, MFS, and MLA programs. The 2025-2026 tuition rate is $71,266 for the CALS MEng program.

The Cornell University Graduate School administers admissions to the Professional Master's Program at Cornell.

Fall Application Deadlines 
 Priority DeadlineGeneral Deadline 
Animal Science, MPSFebruary 15April 15*
BEE MEng and MPS March 1*
Food Science and Technology, MFS February 1
Global Development, MPSDecember 15March 15*
Integrative Plant Science, MPS January 15*
Landscape Architecture, MLA January 8
Landscape Architecture, MPS March 15*
Natural Resources, MPSMarch 31May 31*

*Applications received after the application deadline will be considered if space is available

Required TOEFL scores are assigned and reviewed by the Cornell Graduate School.  Currently the minimum TOEFL scores of the Internet-Based Test (iBT) version are:

  • 15 Listening
  • 22 Speaking
  • 20 Reading
  • 20 Writing

 

Contact the Office of Professional Programs and Extended Learning

  • calsprofprograms [at] cornell.edu (By email)
  • By phone: 607-255-1572 (daytime)
  • In person: 211 Kennedy Hall