Can You Major in Real Estate? Programs, Paths, and How to Get Started

Short Answer

Yes, you can major in real estate at many accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Programs are typically housed in business schools and lead to a BBA, BS, or similar degree in Real Estate, preparing students for roles across brokerage, development, lending, and property management [1] [3] .

What a Real Estate Major Covers

Undergraduate real estate curricula focus on the full property lifecycle: market analysis, finance, law, valuation, development, and asset management. For example, Florida State University places its Real Estate major within a business department that integrates risk management, legal studies, and analytics, emphasizing critical thinking for entry-level roles across mortgage banking, brokerage, appraisal, investment, development, corporate real estate, and public-sector positions [1] . The University of Cincinnati highlights an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial approach spanning mortgage banking, construction, title insurance, property management, brokerage and leasing, appraisal, and development, and allows students to choose real estate as a major, double major, or minor within a business degree framework [3] .

Expect coursework to include real estate principles, finance and investment analysis, market research, property valuation and appraisal, law and contracts, development feasibility, and property and asset management. Many programs also encourage student organizations and industry networking to connect students with internships and employer pipelines, such as FSU’s Real Estate Society and professional forums [1] .

Types of Degrees and Where to Find Them

Colleges may offer a dedicated bachelor’s in real estate (e.g., BBA or BS) or a concentration/track within business or finance. To compare options, you can review ranking aggregators and program pages. Niche aggregates hundreds of schools reporting real estate degrees and adapts ranking methods to emphasize outcomes and de-emphasize standardized tests, which can help students discover a range of institutions that report real estate programs [2] . College Raptor also groups programs under the federal CIP 52.1501 definition, describing coverage such as development policy, law, marketing, brokerage, inspection/appraisal, investing, commercial real estate, and property management, which is useful for understanding scope as you compare curricula [4] .

Action step: shortlist 5-10 schools by reviewing official business school pages to confirm degree type, curriculum, internship access, and career outcomes. For instance, FSU outlines specialized admission requirements and a BS in Real Estate outcome, signaling a structured pathway and clear credential [1] . The University of Cincinnati page shows flexibility to pursue a major, double major, or minor-useful if you want to blend real estate with finance, analytics, or entrepreneurship [3] .

Admissions, Prerequisites, and How to Apply

Business schools commonly require completion of core prerequisites (e.g., economics, accounting, statistics) before you can enter the major, often in the junior year. FSU notes its real estate major is a “specialized admission” program within the business college, which means you must meet the college’s specific entry criteria before certification into the major and then complete major-specific requirements to graduate with a BS in Real Estate [1] . Many business colleges provide assigned academic advisors and walk-in support to map course sequencing and integrate co-ops or study abroad; UC explicitly points students to program advising and structured processes to add majors or minors within Lindner College of Business [3] .

Step-by-step to apply:

Identify target business schools that offer a dedicated real estate degree or concentration using program pages and reliable aggregators [2] [4] .
Review admission criteria for the university and business college (GPA thresholds, prerequisite courses, internal application timing) on the school’s official website [1] [3] .
Meet with admissions and academic advising to plan prerequisites and discuss paths such as double majoring or adding a minor in real estate [3] .
Prepare required materials (transcripts, tests if applicable, essays) and submit by deadlines published by the institution’s admissions and business college pages [1] .

Careers You Can Pursue

Graduates move into roles across property sectors. Programs explicitly prepare students for mortgage banking and institutional lending, brokerage and leasing, appraisal and investment consulting, development, corporate real estate, and roles within government agencies that manage land use and assets [1] . UC’s framing emphasizes the breadth of the industry-construction interfaces, title insurance, property management, and appraisal-illustrating how graduates can enter both transactional and operations-focused career paths [3] . Aggregated major descriptions of CIP 52.1501 indicate that programs cultivate competencies in agency management, marketing, inspection and appraisal, investing, and commercial real estate, which map to analyst, associate, and management-track roles post-graduation [4] .

Example pathways:

Entry-level analyst in acquisitions or asset management at a real estate investment firm, applying finance, valuation, and market research coursework [4] .
Brokerage or leasing associate, leveraging law and marketing concepts and pursuing licensure as required by your state (licensing is regulated at the state level; check your state’s real estate commission) [4] .
Appraisal trainee position, progressing toward state credentialing while using valuation and inspection knowledge gained through undergraduate courses [4] .

Internships, Networking, and Student Organizations

Successful entry into the field often hinges on hands-on experience and industry contacts. FSU highlights internships, corporate tours, and the Real Estate Society for exposure to employers and alumni, which can accelerate job readiness and provide practical project experience before graduation [1] . Similarly, business colleges typically maintain advising and employer relations to help students secure co-ops or internships aligned with their interests, as UC notes through its advising support structure [3] .

Action step: join student real estate organizations at your school and pursue at least one internship in brokerage, lending, development, or property management between sophomore and junior year. Meet with a program advisor early to align internship timing with prerequisite completion [1] [3] .

Licensing Considerations (Brokerage and Appraisal)

A bachelor’s degree in real estate is not a substitute for state licensure where required. If you plan to practice as a sales agent or broker, you will need to meet your state’s education, exam, and background requirements, which are set by your state real estate commission or licensing board. Many undergraduate courses can align with pre-licensing topics, but you should verify with your state regulator before assuming course equivalency. Because licensing rules vary, consult your state’s official real estate commission website by searching for ”
[Your State] real estate commission
,” then reviewing approved education providers and exam procedures. Business schools may also provide guidance on aligning coursework with licensing paths through advising [3] .

How to Choose the Right Program

When evaluating programs, consider:

Curriculum depth: Look for sequences in finance, valuation, development, and asset management, plus electives in analytics and law [4] .
Admission structure: Some programs are competitive or require formal certification into the business school (e.g., specialized admission at FSU) [1] .
Flexibility: If you want to pair real estate with finance, entrepreneurship, or marketing, confirm options to double major or add a minor (UC provides these structures) [3] .
Experiential learning and networks: Prioritize programs with active student societies, alumni engagement, and internship pipelines [1] .

Action step: build a comparison grid with 3-5 must-haves-e.g., internships required, double major availability, faculty with development/finance backgrounds, and proximity to your target job market. Use official program pages to verify each criterion before applying [1] [3] [4] .

Alternatives if Your School Doesn’t Offer the Major

If your institution lacks a dedicated real estate major, you can often pursue a concentration within finance or general business, or add a minor in real estate where available. UC notes students may select real estate as a second area of expertise alongside another major or pursue it as a minor, which is a common structure across business colleges [3] . Aggregated lists and ranking pages can help identify transfer destinations or schools with minors if you want to switch programs [2] [4] . You might also combine a finance or economics major with elective courses in urban planning, construction management, or GIS to build a real estate-ready skill set.

Step-by-Step Next Actions

Clarify your goal: investment/asset management, development, brokerage, appraisal, or corporate real estate. Match goals to coursework and experiential learning opportunities listed on official program pages [1] [3] .
Create a program shortlist: use aggregator pages to discover candidates, then verify details on each school’s business website before applying [2] [4] .
Meet advising early: schedule with business advising to map prerequisites, discuss double majors/minors, and plan internships or co-ops aligned to your target role [3] .
Plan for licensure where needed: if pursuing sales or brokerage, identify your state real estate commission’s official site and confirm pre-licensing education and exam steps. Use your program’s advising resources to align coursework when possible [3] .