Prospective Students

The Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate delivers Columbia Business School’s renowned MBA Real Estate Program, an industry-driven, case-based curriculum designed to develop the next generation of global leaders in real estate finance and investment.

Based in New York City — the world’s real estate and financial capital, Columbia Business School offers unparalleled access to market insights, top-tier faculty, and a powerful network of industry professionals.

Endowed by the Milstein Family in 2001, the Center furthers its mission by:

• Delivering innovative courses taught by leading scholars and practitioners
• Advancing impactful, faculty-led research
• Curating robust programming for students and alumni
• Championing real estate career pathways through employer partnerships, advising, and experiential learning opportunities

The Milstein Center also equips students and faculty with essential tools and resources that enhance learning, research, and career readiness, both in and beyond the classroom.

The Real Estate Program does not require a formal application process. Once admitted to the Columbia Business School MBA program, students may take electives in the real estate area to complement the broad management training offered by the MBA core curriculum. To specialize in the real estate area at Columbia Business School, students will take Real Estate Finance and at least three additional electives.

Please contact the admissions office directly in regards to the application and admissions process to the Columbia Business School MBA program. Feel free to email admissions at [email protected] or by phone at 212-854-1961. Please note that only students admitted to the MBA program are eligible to take courses in the Real Estate program.

MBA students generally take their first real estate elective, Real Estate Finance, in their second semester as it is a prerequisite for all other real estate courses. An exemption exam is also available for Real Estate Finance.

Students wishing to complete a real estate related internship between first and second year benefit from having Real Estate Finance completed before beginning the summer work term.

For a better idea of what a real estate course load might look like, see the courses and curriculum.

EMBA students are always encouraged to take Real Estate classes as long as they meet the prerequisites. They are also encouraged to join the Real Estate Association and participate in the Center's programming and activities. The Real Estate Program falls under the full-time MBA program, and classes are scheduled accordingly; however, Real Estate Finance is offered as an EMBA specific section during the summer term.

The Real Estate Association (REA) is a group of more than 200 current MBA students interested in real estate investment and management. The student group is an important partner to the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, and works to coordinate activities that leverage the educational and networking opportunities available to students. These activities focus on education, career development, and networking, and include international and domestic study tours, industry and alumni speaker events, and social events. Additionally, the club partners with the Center to match students with alumni mentors. Outside of the classroom, real estate students can represent Columbia Business School and refine the skills they are developing in their coursework by participating in national case competitions.

Focused on enhancing members’ industry knowledge and career opportunities, the club organizes industry orientation sessions and panels, site tours, local and international study trips, and social events. One of the largest and most active clubs at Columbia Business School, the REA is an important contributor to students' total real estate experience.

For information on employment and hiring statistics, please check out the employment page.

To connect with a current student, you can reach out to members of the Hermes Society, a student-run organization that works closely with the admissions office, and provides perspective on student life at Columbia Business School. You can reach out to the Hermes society here.

You can also reach out to officers of the Real Estate Association for more information. You can find their contact information here.

Please reach out to [email protected].