Cornell BPS — Bachelor of Professional Studies#

Cornell University is the newest Ivy League school to offer an alternative bachelor's degree for non-traditional students. Their Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) was announced in February 2026, with applications opening in January 2027 and the first class starting in August 2027.

This program is brand new. I am including it in this course because it is a legitimate Cornell degree that will be relevant to many of you — but I want to be upfront that some details are still being finalized. I will update this chapter as more information becomes available.

What Is the Cornell BPS?#

The BPS is Cornell's first-ever part-time, online bachelor's degree. It is offered through the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions (SCE) in partnership with eCornell (Cornell's online learning platform).

The first major available is "Organizations, Markets, and Society" — a program that integrates business, economics, policy, and social sciences. Cornell plans to add more majors over time.

This is a real Cornell University degree — not a certificate, not a continuing education credential. It is a bachelor's degree conferred by Cornell University.

Who Is Eligible?#

Based on what Cornell has announced:

• You must be at least 4 years past high school graduation
• You must have 45-60 transferable college credits from a regionally accredited institution
• A 3.0 GPA is recommended (but lower GPAs may be considered with strong professional experience)
• No SAT or ACT scores are mentioned as requirements
• International applicants appear to be welcome, but Cornell advises international students to "contact the program directly to determine eligibility"

The Transfer Credit Requirement#

This is important: you need 45-60 existing college credits to apply. Unlike Harvard Extension (where you start from scratch) or UPenn LPS Gateway (where you prove yourself through 4 courses), Cornell's BPS requires you to already have roughly 1.5-2 years of college completed.

For international students, there is an open question about whether credits from non-US institutions count as "regionally accredited." You will likely need a credential evaluation (through WES or a similar service) to convert your international credits. Contact Cornell SCE directly to confirm.

What Does the Degree Require?#

The BPS requires approximately 120 credits total. With 45-60 transfer credits, you would complete roughly 60-75 credits at Cornell.

The curriculum for the Organizations, Markets, and Society major includes:

• Core courses in economics, business, policy, and social science
• Electives within the concentration
• A capstone or final project

Courses are delivered asynchronously online — meaning you can watch lectures and complete assignments on your own schedule, which is ideal if you are in a different time zone.

What Does the Diploma Say?#

The diploma will say "Bachelor of Professional Studies" from Cornell University. It is conferred through the School of Continuing Education.

Like the other programs in this course, this is a different degree from Cornell's traditional B.A. or B.S. A student in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences earns a "Bachelor of Arts." You would earn a "Bachelor of Professional Studies." The Cornell name is the same, but the degree title and school are different.

At Cornell, majors typically do NOT appear on the diploma — they appear on the transcript only.

How It Compares to Other Programs#

Cornell's BPS falls into the same category as Harvard Extension and UPenn LPS — a legitimate Ivy League degree with a different name than the traditional undergraduate degree.

Can International Students Get an F-1 Visa?#

No. The BPS is a part-time, fully online program and does not support student visas. You would study from your home country.

This puts it in the same category as Harvard Extension and UPenn LPS — online programs where you cannot move to America.

Tuition and Costs#

There are no room and board costs since you study from home.

This makes the Cornell BPS:

• More expensive than Harvard Extension ($30,000-$60,000)
• Roughly similar to UPenn LPS ($43,000-$86,000)
• Far cheaper than Columbia GS (~$375,000)

Financial Aid for International Students#

Cornell has stated that "need-based financial aid will be available to students who qualify." However, the specific details for international students in the BPS program have not been published yet.

For context, Cornell's traditional undergraduate programs are need-aware for international students (your financial need can affect admission) but meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students. Whether this same policy extends to the BPS is unclear.

My advice: Plan to pay out of pocket until Cornell clarifies the financial aid situation. At $5,550 per semester (part-time), this may be manageable if you are working while studying.

The Timeline — What to Know#

If you are reading this before January 2027, you cannot apply yet. But you can use this time to:

• Accumulate transfer credits — you need 45-60 credits, so take courses at a local university, community college, or through an online program like University of the People
• Build your GPA — a 3.0+ GPA strengthens your application
• Get a credential evaluation — if your credits are from a non-US institution, start the WES evaluation process early
• Contact Cornell SCE — ask about international student eligibility and financial aid

Pros and Cons#

Pros#

• Cornell University on your diploma — one of the most recognized universities in the world
• Fully online and asynchronous — study from anywhere, on your own schedule
• Reasonable cost — $55,000-$69,000 total is competitive with other Ivy League alternative degrees
• Part-time friendly — work while you study
• Need-based financial aid planned — details pending, but Cornell intends to offer aid
• 4-year gap requirement is shorter than Harvard Extension (5 years) and Brown RUE (6 years)
• Professional focus — the Organizations, Markets, and Society major is career-oriented

Cons#

• Not available yet — applications open January 2027, first class August 2027
• "Bachelor of Professional Studies" is a different degree from Cornell's traditional B.A./B.S.
• No F-1 visa — cannot use this to live in the US
• Requires 45-60 transfer credits — you cannot start from zero like Harvard Extension
• Only one major available at launch — limited choices initially
• Financial aid details unclear for international students
• "Regionally accredited" credit requirement may be complicated for international students
• Brand new program — no track record, no alumni network yet, no established reputation

Should You Wait for Cornell?#

That depends on your timeline:

Wait for Cornell if:

• You already have 45-60 college credits (or will by 2027)
• You specifically want a Cornell degree
• You are not in a rush — you can wait until August 2027 to start
• The Organizations, Markets, and Society major aligns with your interests

Do not wait if:

• You want to start studying now — Harvard Extension and UPenn LPS are available today
• You have no college credits — you need 45-60 to apply to Cornell
• You need an F-1 visa — Columbia GS is your option
• You want a proven program with established outcomes

Consider applying to multiple programs: There is nothing stopping you from starting at Harvard Extension or UPenn LPS now and applying to Cornell BPS when it opens. If you prefer Cornell, you can transfer. If you are happy where you are, keep going.

The Bottom Line#

Cornell's BPS is a promising addition to the Ivy League alternative degree landscape. At $55,000-$69,000 for a Cornell degree, the value proposition is strong. But it is new, it is not available yet, and the details for international students — especially around financial aid and credit evaluation — are still unclear.

Keep this program on your radar. Check the Cornell SCE website regularly for updates. And in the meantime, consider starting with one of the other programs in this course that you can apply to right now.