phd real estate

Where To Earn A Ph.D. In Real Estate Online In 2024

Published: Feb 29, 2024, 1:41pm

Have you watched “Selling Sunset” or “Selling the OC”? Are you interested in real estate at a high level? If so, a doctoral degree in real estate might be the right fit for you. A Ph.D. in real estate teaches students advanced research skills and best practices in the field.

Very few schools offer online Ph.D. programs in real estate. In fact, only one school, Capitol Technology University, currently features an online degree that meets our qualifications. Read on to learn more about this program and whether a Ph.D. in real estate is right for you.

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Capitol Technology University

Located just outside of Washington, D.C., in South Laurel, Maryland, Capitol Technology University delivers an online Ph.D. in real estate management that distance learners can complete without ever visiting campus. The 60-credit curriculum features two tracks: a dissertation option and a publication option. The latter requires students to publish original research in three high-ranking scholarly journals.

Half of the program’s required credits deal with dissertations or publications. No matter which track they choose, learners take courses in strategies for real estate management and real estate management research methodologies.

Tuition for CTU’s program is $950 per credit for both in-state and out-of-state learners.

At a Glance

• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $100
• Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Strategies for real estate management, real estate management research methodologies
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: No

Degree Finder

How to find the right online ph.d. in real estate for you, consider your future goals.

When considering whether to pursue an online Ph.D. in real estate, you must first decide if you want to be a realtor or an academic. If you ultimately aspire to buy and sell real estate, a Ph.D. in the field is not necessary. Instead, you should pursue a real estate license in your home state.

However, if you want to perform original research that advances thought in the real estate field—or if you want to teach real estate classes at the college level—a Ph.D. in real estate might be the right fit. CTU’s program requires either a dissertation or a series of publications to help you launch your career as an academic and a scholar.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

CTU charges a tuition rate of $950 per credit. The curriculum for the university’s Ph.D. in real estate consists of 60 credits, translating to a total tuition cost of $57,000. Keep in mind that some Ph.D. programs provide stipends or assistantships to accepted students, but CTU’s program does not.

To defray the cost of your education, your first recourse is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA can lead to scholarships , loans and grants. You can also pursue other aid opportunities through third-party organizations and schools themselves.

Should You Enroll in a Ph.D. in Real Estate Online?

An online Ph.D. in real estate is the right fit for some students, but others might prefer other delivery formats. Before you enroll, ask yourself a few important questions:

• How do you learn best? Online learning requires a great deal of discipline, organization and time management. If you rely on the structure of a peer group or a physical classroom to support you during your studies, you might prefer an in-person program.
• What are your other commitments? Flexibility is one of the main draws of online learning. If you are a parent or plan to continue working full time while pursuing your Ph.D., an online program makes it easier to juggle your commitments more effectively.
• Do you want to be a realtor or an academic? A Ph.D. in real estate usually leads to careers in business or academia. Graduates can use the skills they learn during their program to perform original research that advances scholarship in the field. If your goal is to buy and sell real estate, you need a real estate license, not a terminal degree. You could also consider earning a real estate M.B.A . or a master’s in real estate .

Accreditation for Online Ph.D.s in Real Estate

There are two key types of college accreditation : institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation is the more important of the two. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the regional agencies that administer this process. These agencies vet schools for the quality of their faculty, finances and programs, among other areas.

You should consider only institutionally accredited colleges. Otherwise, you will be ineligible for federal student aid, and your degree may not hold water with employers. CTU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Programmatic accreditation provides quality assurance in specific fields. This type of accreditation is not prevalent in real estate, especially among doctoral degrees.

Our Methodology

We ranked one accredited, nonprofit college offering an online Ph.D. in real estate in the U.S. using 15 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of June 2023. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

• In-state graduate student tuition
• In-state graduate student fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

We listed the only school in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Earning a Ph.D. in Real Estate Online

Can you have a ph.d. in real estate.

Yes, you can! Several schools offer Ph.D. programs in real estate.

Can I get a Ph.D. fully online?

Yes. You can earn a Ph.D. in real estate from Capitol Technology University without ever visiting campus.

Are online Ph.D. programs legitimate?

It depends on the program. Capitol Technology University is institutionally accredited and offers the only online Ph.D. in real estate program that meets our qualifications.

What does a Ph.D. mean in real estate?

A Ph.D. in real estate is the terminal degree in the field. Ph.D. graduates qualify for managerial, academic and scholarly positions. Ph.D. holders typically teach at the college level or perform scholarly research in the field.

What is the difference between a D.B.A. and a Ph.D.?

A Ph.D. is a scholarly degree while a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) is more practice-focused. Ph.D. holders tend to pursue careers in academia, while D.B.A. holders often go after managerial roles in the field.

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Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.

The Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate

Visionary real estate education at cornell university.

Developing Today’s World by Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders

Today’s challenges require a new kind of real estate professional. The Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate is a multi-college department that combines expertise from Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business . A multidisciplinary approach to real estate education is prioritized by immersing students in perspectives from architecture, finance, planning, economics, and law. The department conducts high-impact scholarly research and provides students with hands-on experiences that prepare them to make an impact in the real estate industry.

• #1 Largest full-time real estate faculty in US
• STEM-Designated Real Estate Curriculum
• 98% Graduates Received Job Offers
• 5+ Discipline perspectives in real estate

News from the Department

Explore some of the exciting research and other news from the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate.

Baker Program in Real Estate Announces STEM Designation and +1 Option for Undergrads

The Baker Program announces two developments that enhance the value of its MPS-RE degree and open it up to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

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Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate chair Stuart Rosenthal outlines links between economics, real estate markets, and the health of communities.

Recent Grad Sets His Sights on Real Estate Opportunities in the Caribbean

Browne graduated from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Now he aims to bring his expertise back to a region close to his heart.

$30 Million Gift Names Department of Real Estate

A gift from Paul Rubacha ’72, MBA ’73, co-founder of one of the largest privately held industrial real estate investment companies in the U.S., established the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate.

Hear from Our Students

“I love the cross-pollination across faculties, bringing in urban planners, architects, and engineers offers different viewpoints and much more interesting class dialogue. The fact that Cornell is located in a small town was also particularly appealing to me. It brings the cohort and other Cornellians much closer together beyond proximity.”

—Alice Chi Hu MPS-RE ’24

The Baker Program in Real Estate

The Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate prepares professionals with comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and flexible real estate master’s degrees. Our graduates have limitless opportunities in the real estate industry, thanks to the program’s specialized concentrations, treks, internships, and the robust Cornell network.

Hear from Our Department Chair

“The joint oversight of the department by AAP and the SC Johnson College of Business is indicative of the depth of conviction that real estate as a ‘field’ benefits from input from multiple perspectives. This is absolutely true for students seeking to pursue careers in any number of facets of the real estate industry. It is also true for scholarly research.”

—Stuart Rosenthal, Chair of the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate

#1 Largest Full-Time Real Estate Faculty in the US

At the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, you’ll learn from renowned industry thought leaders.

Cody Danks Burke

Biography for cody danks burke.

Cody Danks Burke is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Baker Program. He has extensive experience managing investment portfolios with a focus on real estate assets. His positions include many years on Cornell's investment team and ongoing work with private companies outside of Cornell.

Suzanne L. Charles

Biography for suzanne l. charles.

Suzanne Lanyi Charles is an Associate Professor whose research examines housing finance, infill redevelopment, and access to affordable housing. She is a Fulbright US Scholar recipient and worked for many years as a licensed architect before earning her doctorate in urban planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Dragana Cvijanovic

Biography for dragana cvijanovic.

Dragana Cvijanovic is an Associate Professor in Applied Economics and Policy. Her research interests include real estate finance, housing, and corporate governance, and has appeared in leading finance journals. Her work has been recognized through several international honors and awards.

Stuart S. Rosenthal

Biography for stuart s. rosenthal.

Stuart Rosenthal serves as Chair of the Rubacha Department of Real Estate. He has extensive experience in real estate including 17 years as managing editor of the Journal of Urban Economics, a former president of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, and other notable positions.

The Cornell Real Estate Review

The Cornell Real Estate Review was founded in 2002 as a forum for faculty, professionals, and real estate students to focus attention on current issues in the real estate industry. The publication covers many topics from the various real estate disciplines including design, business economics, engineering, finance, law, planning, development, marketing, and property management.

Develop Your Infrastructure at Cornell

Take the first step toward a rewarding, fulfilling career in real estate by adding Cornell credentials and an innovative hospitality education to your resume.

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Schack Institute of Real Estate

Preparing the Future Leaders of Real Estate and Real Estate Development

The NYU School of Professional Studies Schack Institute of Real Estate offers cutting-edge, globally focused curricula. All programs focus on experiential learning and are taught by leaders in academia and seasoned real estate professionals. The Schack Institute provides unsurpassed networking opportunities through direct connections within the real estate industry, and world-renowned conferences, internships, and guest speakers. The  Schack Advisory Board  serves as a driving force behind the stellar NYU real estate education you will receive, combined with the opportunity to study in NYC, the real estate capital of the world. Learn more about our BS in Real Estate , MS in Real Estate , and MS in Real Estate Development .

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Student-run reit investment fund >.

The Schack REIT Center’s REIT Investment Fund will provide Schack students with an opportunity to apply and integrate real estate institute teachings in the pursuit of investment management experience and results.

Global Field Intensive Opportunities >

Global field intensives at the Schack Institute of Real Estate offer students immersive learning experiences in key international real estate markets, fostering a deep understanding of global industry dynamics. Through site visits, guest lectures, and hands-on projects, participants gain invaluable insights and connections that enhance their expertise and networks in the global real estate arena.

Industry Speakers

The Schack Institute of Real Estate's Distinguished Speaker Series features renowned figures from the real estate industry, offering students direct access to insights and perspectives from industry leaders. Additionally, the Executive in Residence program brings seasoned professionals to engage with students, providing mentorship and real-world guidance to shape the next generation of real estate professionals.

Industry Connections

Schack Institute’s extensive industry connections facilitate site tour visits, allowing students to gain first hand exposure to various real estate developments and projects. Additionally, the institute organizes networking events that bring together students, faculty, and industry professionals, providing invaluable opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and career advancement in the real estate sector.

MESSAGE FROM ASSOCIATE DEAN MARC NORMAN

Welcome to the NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate, a global leader in real estate, finance, industry engagement and applied research. Whether your interests are in real estate finance, construction or development, you will find that Schack is unmatched in the depth and breadth of opportunities for students to advance their careers.

I encourage you to learn as much as you can about our programs and about the unique experience that the Schack Institute of Real Estate offers. I wish you the best in all of your professional endeavors and look forward to the possibility of you joining us to pursue your degree or career journey.

SCHACk BY THE NUMBERS

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

GRADUATE DEGREES THAT SET YOU APART

Schack Institute of Real Estate graduate degree programs provide a New York City advantage combined with global insights that are critically important. Learn from top industry experts, travel and work around the world, and build an invaluable professional network.

Master’s in Real Estate

The hirsh fellows program.

Hirsh Fellows Program enrolls 15-20 exceptional full-time students who earn a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) with a concentration in Finance and Investment. Building upon the Schack Institute’s world-renowned graduate real estate curriculum, the Hirsh Fellows Program offers a highly specialized, one-year academic and co-curricular cohort experience that prepares students for management and executive positions in the real estate industry.

Master’s in Real Estate Development (MSRED)

Master’s in construction management, earn your undergraduate real estate degree at nyu.

The Schack Institute's BS in Real Estate has repeatedly been ranked as one of the top university real estate undergraduate degree programs in the United States. In 2020, the program was ranked #3 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report Education in the category of Undergraduate Program.

Bachelor’s in Real Estate

Professionally focused continuing education.

Schack Institute offers online Courses in Building Design , Construction , and Real Estate . A full range of Certificate Programs in Real Estate and Construction are offered for your professional development needs.

CENTERS OF LEARNING

Crefc center for real estate finance > (opens in a new tab).

The CREFC Center convenes members of academia and industry in addressing critical issues for the commercial real estate finance sector.

Schack Center for Sustainable Built Environment >

This Center seeks to advance best practices for sustainability across the many disciplines that touch commercial real estate development and construction.

The Urban Lab > (Opens in a new tab)

The NYU Urban Lab is a leading national voice and influencing body focused on impact real estate development and inclusive growth in cities.

REIT Center >

The REIT Center provides a forum for the study and analysis of REITS, REOCs, and their expanding sphere of influence in real asset investment.

A Special Message from Larry Silverstein

Larry Silverstein, founder of the NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate, chairman emeritus of the Schack Institute Board, and chairman of Silverstein Properties, had a message for our students and people everywhere: we will come through this better, stronger, and more resilient than ever.

Events and Conferences

The Schack Institute hosts some of the most prominent conferences in real estate, including the Annual Conference on Capital Markets in Real Estate, the Annual REIT Symposium, and the Annual Women in Real Estate Symposium—one of the largest events of its kind in the industry.

28th Annual REIT Symposium

Distinguished faculty, stephanie d wright, manish srivastava, zair cheema, schack highlights, nyu sps schack institute of real estate to host its 28th annual reit symposium on april 17, nyu sps schack institute of real estate to host its 56th annual conference on capital markets in real estate on november 30, nyu sps schack institute of real estate to host its popular annual national symposium of women in real estate on september 21 in nyc, nyu sps schack institute alum constantinos “gus” podias creates first-of-its-kind on-demand delivery platform/app for the construction industry, nyu school of professional studies schack institute of real estate introduces ground-breaking, student-run reit investment fund, nyu school of professional studies schack institute of real estate to host 27th annual reit symposium on april 19 in new york city, take the first step.

Are you ready to begin your SPS education and career?

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Ph.D. in Urban Planning

• dissertations
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The Ph.D. in Urban Planning is focused on training individuals for future careers as teachers, researchers, policy-makers, and business entrepreneurs in and near the field of urban planning—in academia, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and think tanks. The program equips students with the theoretical and methodological expertise to address important contemporary issues, such as climate change and adaptation, built environment transformation, immigration and migration, housing and community development, and poverty and inequality. It is a highly competitive doctoral program, accepting only three candidates each year.

We welcome prospective students from a wide range of backgrounds, and value strong abilities for critical thinking and independent research. In reviewing applications, the Ph.D. faculty make decisions collectively, based on students’ academic preparation, topical areas of interest, and experience with analytical. We encourage students to explore various directions of intellectual growth after enrollment.

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning is a program within the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) while the actual degree is granted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

Admission for 2024

• The application deadline for 2024 admissions was December 14, 2023, and is now closed.
• For additional information on the application process and requirements, please see the GSAS website.
• Hiba Bou Akar
• Hugo Sarmiento
• Anthony Vanky
• Tom Slater , Program Director

Upon entering the program, each student consults with the program director for the duration of their coursework. The program director’s role is to provide independent guidance and mentorship on all aspects of student life. Students meet at least once each semester with the program director to discuss their academic progress and future plans.

By the date of the comprehensive examination and prior to submitting their dissertation prospectus, each student selects a dissertation advisor (also known as sponsor), to act as a guide during the course of dissertation research and for the dissertation defense. During this or any other time, students are still able to draw on the mentorship of other Ph.D. faculty.

Fall 2024 Courses

Related Events

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