This article was originally reported in November 2025. See the “Latest update” section below for developments since then.
Cornell University‘s College of Arts & Sciences announced in November 2025 a new semester-long study away program in Los Angeles focused on the entertainment industry. Cornell in Los Angeles, run by the Department of Performing and Media Arts (PMA), was to welcome an inaugural cohort of ten students in spring 2027, with applications opening April 1, 2026 (Cornell Chronicle, Nov. 12, 2025).
What the program offers
Students take PMA classes designed specifically for the program, along with masterclasses, site visits, alumni-led events, networking and professional development, and visits to Los Angeles cultural institutions, archives and historical sites. Kristen Warner, an associate professor in PMA and the program’s first faculty lead, said many students interested in the industry do not know where to start: “There’s a real knowledge gap,” she said, noting that in entertainment there is “no career fair, no place to just hand off your résumé” (Cornell Chronicle). The program is supported by a gift from Liz and Randal Sandler (Cornell PMA, Cornell in Los Angeles).
Latest update
The first cohort’s semester in Los Angeles runs Jan. 25 to May 10, 2027, matching the Ithaca academic calendar, and the program is directed by associate professors Kristen Warner and Beth Milles. Applications for spring 2028 open Feb. 19, 2027, and close March 19, 2027, with decisions in April 2027 (Cornell PMA, Cornell in Los Angeles). Details from the program page:
- Eligibility: Cornell undergraduates in their second, third or fourth year from any college and major, with preference for sophomores and juniors, PMA majors and minors, and students with a demonstrated interest in performing and media arts; minimum GPA 2.75.
- Courses (14 credits): PMA 2401 Industry Immersions (2 credits), PMA 3483 Performing and Media Arts in Los Angeles (4), PMA 3482 Media Industries (4) and PMA 3999 Directed Study (4). Selected students first take PMA 2400 Preproduction and Development (1 credit) in the fall semester before they go.
- Partners: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (film archives, museum and Margaret Herrick Library tours) and the Cornell Club of Los Angeles for alumni networking.
- Housing: students must live in program housing in Hollywood, estimated at $6,872 (double) or $7,783 (single) for 2026–27.
- Cost: students pay their usual Cornell tuition (estimated at $36,973 for the semester in the endowed colleges and for out-of-state students, $24,908 for New York residents in the contract colleges) plus housing, and the program estimates another $5,000 for airfare, meals, transportation and spending. Financial aid applies on the same terms as on campus.
- Applying: an application, personal essay, résumé, independent study proposal, one recommendation letter and an interview with the program director; accepted students pay a non-refundable $300 deposit toward housing. Questions go to [email protected].
What this means for international students
- Who can go: the program is open to current Cornell undergraduates, so international students would apply after enrolling at Cornell. As with any semester away from Ithaca, F-1 students should check with Cornell’s international services office before they go.
- Working in Los Angeles: the program is built around courses, masterclasses and site visits rather than jobs. F-1 students cannot take any off-campus work, paid or unpaid, without authorization, and since August 2026 federal guidance limits Curricular Practical Training to training that is a required part of a program’s curriculum (SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-02, copy hosted by Rowan University).
- Cost and aid: Cornell is need-aware for international applicants, and international students who want need-based aid must apply when they apply for admission (Cornell Financial Aid, international FAQ). Those with aid keep it for the semester in Los Angeles under the same terms.
- Rankings: Cornell is No. 14 in the 2027 U.S. News Best National Universities ranking (Forward Pathway). For more on how Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences works, see our guide to Cornell A&S.
References
- A&S launches Cornell in Los Angeles study away program – Cornell Chronicle, Nov. 12, 2025
- Cornell in Los Angeles – Department of Performing and Media Arts, Cornell University
- Frequently asked questions about international financial aid – Cornell University
- SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-02: Guidance for DSOs regarding CPT – Aug. 24, 2026