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Real Estate, M.S.

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Build your real estate career where the deals are happening.

Real estate is finance, development, market strategy and relationship-building in motion — and UNC Charlotte’s M.S. in Real Estate teaches it that way.

Designed for real estate professionals, finance and banking professionals and career-changers from adjacent fields, the program builds the analytical, transactional and leadership skills to move into higher-impact roles.

Evening classes at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City put you in Uptown Charlotte, close to the developers, investors, brokers, asset managers and lenders shaping one of the country’s most active real estate markets. You won’t just study the market — you’ll learn from the people building it.

Real Estate, M.S. at a glance

Delivery
In-person, evening classes at the Dubois Center
Credit Hours
33 credit hours
Duration
Full time 12 months; Part time options available
Mentoring
1:1 mentoring with alumni + industry executives

Why study real estate at UNC Charlotte?

Charlotte ranks #5 among the most attractive CRE investment markets in the U.S. — according to CBRE’s 2026 North American Investor Intentions Survey. That’s the market you’ll train in, network in, and launch your career from.

A center built for the industry, not just the classroom

The Childress Klein Center for Real Estate is the engine of this program — the kind of dedicated real estate center few graduate programs nationally can claim. It’s what makes the MSRE applied rather than theoretical.

  • Fioretti Real Estate Investment Fund — Manage real capital. Conduct live due diligence. Make actual investment recommendations. This isn’t a simulation.
  • 1:1 Industry Mentoring — Direct access to alumni and executives across development, brokerage, capital markets and asset management.
  • Professional Designation Alignment — Curriculum is structured to support CCIM, CPM, MAI and NC Broker License preparation.
  • International Study Abroad — Every student graduates with global market exposure built into the degree.

AACSB-accredited. Charlotte-rooted. Career-ready.

The result is a degree designed to translate directly into one of the country’s most active commercial real estate markets — the moment you graduate.

LEARN THE MARKET. LEAD IN IT.

The Difference is Charlotte

Charlotte isn’t just growing. 157 people move to the Charlotte Region every day, pushing the city toward 1 million residents — and 19 Fortune 1000 companies are already here to meet them. The M.S. in Real Estate connects you to the people and projects driving that demand.

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA uptown skyline at night.

Through the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate, you’ll gain access to industry seminars, mentoring, competitions, applied research and the Fioretti Real Estate Fund, where the Charlotte Advantage becomes tangible: market proximity, practitioner access and real investment analysis.

M.S. in Real Estate

Career Outcomes

The program prepares students for roles in development, asset management, investment analysis, acquisition, property management, market research, finance and portfolio-level decision-making.

Graduates work with organizations such as Greystar, Truist, Crescent Communities, Northwood Ravin, Childress Klein, CBRE, Wells Fargo, Lincoln Harris, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch.

Lightcast 2025 (Lightcast.io) + UNC Charlotte Next Destination Survey. Note that career earnings potential reflects alumni career trajectory, not immediate starting salary.

$163K
career earnings potential
1:1
mentoring with Charlotte industry leaders
89%
graduates working in the field

Curriculum and Applied Experience

The 32-credit curriculum is built around how real estate actually works: capital, markets, development, valuation, asset management, law, investment and decision-making.

  • 21 credit hours of required core coursework
  • 12 credit hours of elective coursework
  • Required capstone course
  • Required international study abroad experience
Core classes
Elective Courses

Other program benefits include:

Fioretti Real Estate Investment Fund

For our students, the Fioretti Fund is where the curriculum becomes practice.

Through the fund, you’ll conduct live due diligence on commercial real estate investment opportunities — site visits, market analysis, partner engagement, confidential deal review and formal investment recommendations. The fund invests approximately $50,000 in commercial real estate projects, giving you experience closer to an investment committee process than a classroom case study.

Industry Mentoring, Competitions and Study Abroad

  • 1:1 mentoring with alumni and industry executives connects students to Charlotte’s real estate network
  • Industry seminar series provides regular access to practitioners across development, brokerage, capital markets and asset management
  • Real estate competitions let students apply analytical skills against peer programs under real competitive pressure
  • Required international study abroad alternates between Ireland and Italy, giving comparative exposure to European real estate markets

Professional Pathways and Designations

M.S. in Real Estate coursework may support progress toward several recognized credentials:

You should talk with an advisor about your specific designation pathway before applying or enrolling.

Still trying to decide?

Find out more about the M.S. in Real Estate program at an in-person or virtual information session, or speak with our recruitment specialist.

Request Information

Ready to apply?

Apply now to the MSRE program at UNC Charlotte and gain the skills and experience needed to excel in the real estate industry.

Apply Now

Is the M.S. in Real Estate the right program for me?

The M.S. in Real Estate may be a strong fit if you are:

  • A CRE professional ready to move from transaction support into transaction leadership.
  • A broker, analyst, property manager, developer, underwriter or lender seeking broader market and investment expertise.
  • A finance or banking professional who wants to shift into real estate investment, development or asset management.
  • A career-changer from an adjacent field looking for a rigorous, credential-bearing pathway into commercial real estate.
  • A professional who wants designation pathways, mentoring and applied investment experience in the same program.

No real estate background is required to apply. Preparatory coursework needs are assessed individually during admissions.

Application requirements + admissions

SEE THE CATALOG

What you’ll submit

  • Completed online application
    • Statement of purpose (essay)
    • Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s personal and professional qualifications
    • Unofficial transcript(s) of all academic work attempted beyond high school. An official transcript must be submitted if an applicant is offered admission.
    • Resume or a description of work experience. If you are a member of any local real estate industry organizations, please make sure you include these on your resume.

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • A satisfactory score on the GRE/GMAT test unless approved for a GMAT/GRE Waiver.
  • Prerequisite courses in Financial Management and Micro + Macro Economics.

International Admissions

In addition to all of the requirements listed above, international applicants must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score. 

  • TOEFL: Minimum score of 83 internet-based is required 
  • IELTS: Minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required 
  • Duolingo: Minimum score of 115 is required.

International applicants should refer to the International Admissions website for deadlines and additional admissions information.

TEST SCORES

GMAT/GRE WAIVER

GMAT/GRE waivers are available for qualified applicants. To be eligible for a GMAT/GRE waiver, candidates must fully satisfy the requirements of one of the following options:

Option A

  • Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA (graduate or undergraduate) from an accredited institution.
  • Only candidates with significant quantitative coursework will be considered.

Option B

  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (graduate or undergraduate) from an accredited institution
  • Candidates must possess 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field or military experience that demonstrates applied and analytical skills (significant leadership experience is a plus).

How to request your waiver

  1. Start your application through Graduate Admissions.
  2. Review the waiver criteria in the graduate catalog.
  3. Select the GRE/GMAT Waiver Request option in the application.
  4. Upload your resume, transcripts and your amount of years of full-time, professional work experience.
  5. Submit — you will be notified of the decision by email.

If your waiver is not approved, you will be required to submit official GMAT/GRE scores. Questions? Contact Kimberly McLaurin.

Accreditation

UNC Charlotte was the first university in the Charlotte region to earn accreditation by AACSB International, and has now held that distinction for more than 30 years. UNC Charlotte is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.

See more about our accreditation

Real Estate, M.S.

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Program Overview

The M.S. in Real Estate (MSRE) program equips you with the essential skills to pursue careers such as development associate, underwriter, broker, asset and property manager, acquisition specialist and investment/financial analyst. The program features the Fioretti Real Estate Investment Fund, providing hands-on experience in real estate investment and management. Our graduates have secured positions at leading Charlotte real estate firms, including Childress Klein, Crescent Communities, Grubb Properties, CB Richard Ellis, Wells Fargo, Lincoln Harris, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and many others.

Belk College of Business Childress Klein Center for Real Estate

Program Contact

Kimberly McLaurin

Assistant Director, Belk College of Business Graduate Programs

kmclaur8@charlotte.edu

704-687-6197

Still trying to decide?

Find out more about the M.S. in Real Estate program at an in-person or virtual information session, or speak with our recruitment specialist.

Request Information

Ready to apply?

Apply now to the MSRE program at UNC Charlotte and gain the skills and experience needed to excel in the real estate industry. Transform your career with hands-on learning and connections to top firms.

Apply Now

Real Estate, M.S. at a Glance

The M.S. in Real Estate can fast-track you for several prestigious real estate professional designations, enhancing your career prospects and industry credibility. Academic coursework from the MSRE program can be used toward the following designations:

Delivery
In-person, on campus at the The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City in Uptown Charlotte
Credit Hours
32 Credit Hours
Duration
Full Time 12 months, Part time avg. 2-2.5 years

Explore Official University Catalog

Check out the official catalog for information on specific degree requirements, course progressions, curriculum and more.

Visit Catalog