Admissions

The Master of Engineering degree is a coursework and project-oriented program. Prospective applicants can find additional information on our Admissions FAQ page.

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for Fall 2025 applicants is February 1. 

Early admission for Cornell undergraduate students. Schedule a meeting to learn about the deadlines and requirements.

Application Requirements 

We admit candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a variety of STEM backgrounds. No work experience is required. Accepted applicants have sequence of math that includes Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Calculus 3, Differential Equations, and a Probability and Statistics course.

• Online application
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendation (3)
• Application fee
• English Language Proficiencies 
• Technical writing sample 

We will also interview a select group of applicants prior to admission to the program. 

What we're looking for in the required writing samples:

• Be creative! We want to learn more about you in a fun, engaging way.
• Highlight your strengths: This is the time to showcase you and how you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering Management community.
• Share your passion for Cornell: We are excited to hear what gets you excited about Cornell and the MEM program.

The Academic Statement of Purpose helps the admissions committee understand your academic objectives and determine if you are a good match for the program you are applying to. The goal of this document is to impress upon the admissions committee that you have solid background and experience, and that you have the potential to be successful in graduate study. The Academic Statement of Purpose is also a place, if necessary, to address any blemishes, gaps, or weaknesses in your academic record. In these situations, be honest but brief. Focus on how you overcame obstacles, remained persistent in the pursuit of your goals and showed resilience. Share what you learned from the particular experience, and how it led you to become a better scholar or person.

The Personal Statement is an opportunity to provide us with more information about you.  Please highlight any lived experiences or interactions – including successes, failures, conflicts, injustices, or journeys of self-discovery – that have significantly shaped or serve to demonstrate your problem solving, communication, collaboration and teamwork, leadership, maturity and self-awareness, endurance, and/or resilience.

What we’re looking for in the technical writing sample in your application

The Technical Writing Sample demonstrates your ability to synthesize and communicate quantitative information. It should be no more than 5,000 words and can include figures. Acceptable documents include but are not limited to a technical analysis, project report, written review of technical material, an internal company report, white paper, published article, and projects/reports from a previous engineering course. The technical writing sample should have been written in the past 3 years. If you were a coauthor, provide an introductory paragraph that specifically highlights your role and contribution.

If you or your employer have concerns about confidential material, you can choose to redact portions of the document containing sensitive information or data. You can also write a brief critical review of the work in question that omits any confidential material or data. If portions of the document are removed, we respectfully request that the submission is coherent and still allows the admissions team to make an informed decision about the candidate. 

Admission for international applicants English language proficiency

All international applicants must be able to demonstrate a minimum required level of English language proficiency in order to be considered for admission. More information is available on the M.Eng. Programs Application Guide.