REAL ESTATE FINANCE & INVESTMENT (MBA)
Train to be a leader in global real estate
DePaul’s MBA in Real Estate Finance and Investment will prepare you for leadership in the rapidly changing world of global real estate. Learn how to manage complex real estate transactions by understanding every aspect of the industry, including finance and real estate investing, taxation, development, investment sales and capital market analysis.
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Study real estate in the city that pioneered the skyscraper
Chicago’s developing real estate landscape is your classroom--and our campus is located where the city’s civic, business and legal communities meet. You’ll become proficient in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, urban planning, financing and operations while watching all of it happen around you.
Application Deadlines
| Enrollment Quarter | Domestic Student Deadline | International Student Deadline |
| Fall | August 15 | August 15 |
| Winter | December 1 | October 1 |
| Spring | March 1 | February 1 |
| Summer | June 1 | April 1 |
Admission Requirements
Submit an online application, letters of recommendation and résumé.
Required Courses
You’ll take 11 MBA core courses and five electives.
97%
of MBA graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.
$85k
The median reported salary for MBA graduates was $85,000.
Faculty with a global impact
Faculty members within the Real Estate Investment MBA program include James D. Shilling, George Ruff Endowed Chair in the Real Estate Center, who has completed research that explores housing and real estate investment trends that impact home buyers, investors, and the real estate industry. He has presented these findings to academic and business professionals around the world, and you’ll have the opportunity to work with him.
“DePaul’s program structure was very efficient. It allowed me to transition easily into commercial real estate from another industry, and that is really what I was looking for. Ultimately I wanted to gain the knowledge in the classroom that I was going to be able to use in the real world.”
Derek (MBA ’13)
Senior Vice President, JLL
Alumni Network
Join our strong network of DePaul alumni who are active in the real estate industry. Networking opportunities abound with the DePaul Real Estate Alumni Alliance (DREAA), the student mentorship program, and high-profile Real Estate Center conferences.
Flexible formats to work with any lifestyle
Full-time Day MBA for early-career professionals or career changers. Classes offered during the day.
Evening MBA for established professionals in need of flexibility. Classes are in the evenings.
Scholarships
Graduate school is an investment in your future. Kellstadt awarded more than $3 million to incoming students last year. Students in the Real Estate program are also eligible for numerous industry-sponsored scholarships. Learn more about scholarship opportunities available to you.
Real Estate Finance & Investment MBA Admission Requirements
- ??Application & fee
- Essay
- Letter of recommendation
- Resume
- Test optional – GMAT/GRE Scores (submission is optional)
- Interview (Full-time MBA only)
- International student admission requirements: Click here.
Submit your online application and the $60 application fee
An essay explaining your interest in the program and your professional goals is required.
The Kellstadt Graduate School of Business requires official transcripts from all degree-seeking institutions. The admission committee reserves the right to request official transcripts from universities where an applicant attended but did not complete a degree. Please note that not submitting all transcripts where courses have been completed could impact course waivers.
Full-time MBA applicants must submit one letter of recommendation from a current or previous employer. Submit the letter through the online application or kgsb@depaul.edu. Be sure to include the name of the recommender and applicant's name on the letter.? ??
All MBA applicants must also submit a professional resume that summarizes their work experience and educational background.
Interviews are required only for applicants to the Full-time MBA program. The admission committee may require applicants to other programs to schedule an interview if necessary.
Deadlines
?To ensure that you will be able to enroll in the quarter of your choice, we recommend that you apply by these dates:
| Enrollment Quarter | Domestic Student Deadline | International Student Deadline |
| Fall | August 15 | June 15 |
| Winter | December 1 | October 15 |
| Spring | March 1 | January 15 |
| Summer | June 1 | April 15 |
Learn more about Graduate Admission.
Concentration Requirements
DePaul’s MBA concentration in Real Estate Finance and Investment is a multidisciplinary program that will prepare you for leadership roles in the rapidly changing world of global real estate finance and investment. Through a combination of management, marketing, finance and investment courses, you will acquire the skills necessary to navigate this diverse industry. You will gain proficiency in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, urban planning, financing and operations.
In this concentration, you can choose from a diverse set of competencies and skills, which encompass how to:
- Manage complex real estate transactions by learning all aspects of these transactions, including finance and real estate investing, taxation, development, investment sales and capital market analysis.
- Manage urban planning initiatives and public sector enterprises.
- Facilitate financial and investment transactions.
In addition to the core curriculum, this concentration provides an exclusive opportunity to be paired with a senior real estate executive to learn first-hand the skills necessary to succeed in this industry.
Course Requirements
To complete the Real Estate concentration, students must complete four courses from the following list:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RE 530 | REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND FINANCE | 4 |
| RE 531 | REAL ESTATE CAPITAL MARKETS AND FINANCE | 4 |
| RE 535 | INSTITUTIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT | 4 |
| RE 570 | ADVANCED REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS WITH ARGUS | 4 |
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