Top Real Estate MBAs: Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Northwest real estate is rapidly expanding, with population increases (16.5-19.8 percent) in the these five metros:
- Greeley, CO
- George, UT
- Bend-Redmond, OR
- Provo-Orem, UT
- Boise, ID
While the Northwest is home to relatively few of the top-ranked MBA programs, the region makes up for a lack of quantity with quality—and specificity. Unbeknownst to many prospective b-schoolers pining for a tony school on the Eastern Seaboard, the American Northwest boasts a surprising number of excellent Real Estate-focused degrees.
Let’s take a closer look at the premiere options in the region:
The Top Northwest Real Estate MBA Programs
Located in Boulder, UC’s Leeds School of Business offers a traditional two-year full-time MBA with a real estate concentration. Noting its multi-disciplinary approach and the support of the CU Real Estate Center, the Leeds MBA real estate concentration offers a curriculum organized by industry focus, including the following courses:
- Sustainability & Real Estate
- Real Estate Finance
- Entrepreneurial Real Estate
In addition, the program offers a combination of “networking events, personal mentoring, conferences and competitions” to aid their MBA students in building their real estate industry careers. Annual tuition for in-state residents is $35,782, while out-of-state students can expect to pay $66,600.
Founded in 1908, the University of Denver Daniels College of Business organizes its MBA curriculum around a series of challenges that run concurrently with classes to provide students with a continually applied learning experience.
Students design a growth plan to monitor themselves so they can optimize their education and performance. Daniels offers a two-year, full-time MBA with a concentration in “Real Estate and the Built Environment.” With a customizable curriculum, annual tuition is $90,400.
Portland State University offers a Master’s of Real Estate Development that functions as an interdisciplinary program with PSU’s School of Business Administration, the School of Urban Studies and Planning, and the Center for Real Estate.
With 12-month full-time and 24-month part-time options, the curriculum includes courses in real estate fundamentals, a real-world capstone development project, fast tracks to professional licenses, and exposure to examples of sustainable urban development.
Annual tuition for in-state students is $37,800 full-time and $39,162 for out-of-state students, with residents of certain western states potentially eligible for tuition through WICHE and WRGP. Non-resident tuition is $45,555 full-time and $46,917 part-time for out-of-state students.
Nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain Range just outside of Salt Lake City, the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business offers a Master of Real Estate Development that emphasizes hands-on learning informed by and contributing to the research through the Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center.
Students also have access to competitions such as the Utah Real Estate Challenge, weekly real estate labs, and professional mentorships. Study abroad opportunities and flexible, work-compatible schedules are also available. Annual tuition for Utah residents is $43,200 full-time and while non-residents can expect to pay $71,900.
In the University of Washington Foster School of Business full-time MBA program, students can take up to 16 credits worth of courses that are “non-MBA” coursework, of which includes real estate courses via the university’s College of Built Environments.
While some non-MBA courses at UW require pre-approval, the real estate course options do not require a a Non-MBA Class Request form. The total cost (tuition and fees)of the full-time program at UW’s Foster School of Business is currently $66,654 for in-state residents, and $96,666 for out-of-state residents. Prices are subject to change annually.
Finding The Best Affordable Full-Time MBA Programs
Earning an MBA is a great way to ensure some level of financial security in the future. However, if earning the degree leaves you with mountains of debt, that security can start to seem like a pipe dream. Fortunately, there are business schools that provide some of the best affordable full-time MBA programs in the country.
Analyzing the full-time MBA rankings from U.S. News & World Report, we outline ten of the best MBA programs throughout the country that don’t come with the hefty price tag. Check out the ten programs that cost less than $25,000 per semester below.
The Best Affordable Full-Time MBA Programs
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University charges $1,600 per credit for their 55-credit program. The cost comes to about $22,000 per semester, which is not bad considering the average starting salary for recent grads is $88,000. The Boston school also offers its students a corporate residency while pursuing their degree, which helps alleviate financial pressure. The average salary for the Corporate Residencies was a respectable $32.52 per hour in 2018. Moreover, 91 percent of MBAs receive job offers within three months of graduation. Students with an interest in international business can participate in the Global Consulting Project or International Field Study.
At $11,855 per semester, going to La Salle University allows students to earn their MBAs without breaking the bank. The length of the program varies depending on a student’s previous credits and scheduling choices. Students who majored or minored in business can complete their degree in 12 months, whereas students without a business major or minor may take up to 24 months. Options for specialization include: accounting, business systems and analytics, finance, general business administration, management, and marketing.
Despite the reasonable price tag, La Salle grads have gone on to work high-level positions at well-known companies like Deloitte LLP and Morgan Chase.
The University of Colorado, Boulder Leeds School of Business ranks 65th overall among the best full-time MBA programs on U.S. News, and has a welcoming price tag to back it up. For in-state residents, the program is only $900 per credit ($1,200 for out-of-state residents). Over the course of 55 credits, this comes to just $49,500 for in-state residents over the entire two years of the program: $24,750 per year.
Leeds emphasizes entrepreneurship and a global outlook. The degree electives encourage students to concentrate on finance, marketing, management, or systems-operations. Students can complement this “functional focus” with a more tailored specialization like entrepreneurship, real estate, or sustainability. MBAs are not limited to MBA courses, as the program allows them to take up to four electives in other schools at CU Boulder. Additionally, students earning their MBA in Sustainability have the opportunity to take courses in University of Colorado’s Environmental Studies, Engineering, and Law Schools.
Upstate New Yorkers will be pleased to learn that the Binghamton University School of Management costs about $17,205 (with fees) per year for in-state residents. Non-residents pay about $26,745 (with fees) per year. Binghamton also does not require that entering MBAs have a business background, though they recommend a rudimentary knowledge of calculus, as well as strong skills in English and IT. The standard four-semester MBA is open to students from all undergrad majors. The school is currently 76th on the U.S. News list. Binghamton, NY may also be a strategic career-launch location, as the city made the Forbes list of “The Best Small Places For Business And Careers.”
Internships and opportunities to hobnob abound in the U.S. capital, making DC an excellent place to earn an MBA. However, with the cost of living on the rise, finding a relatively affordable school is key to maximizing return on investment. The cost of pursuing an MBA at the Kogod School of Business at American University comes out to about $20,923 per semester, for a total cost of $83,692. And, with a mean graduate salary of $84,725, it should not take grads long to see a respectable ROI. Kogod offers features like weekly Business Leadership Luncheons, wherein local business pioneers share their experiences and insights with students. Speakers have included senior executives from PayPal, IBM, and Marriott International. Graduates of the program have gone on to work at companies like Amazon, Deloitte, and Ford Motor Company.
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MBAs at the Argryros School of Business—the 79th overall school on the U.S. News list—pay $1,655 per credit. Which, for the 50-credit program, averages to about $20,687 per semester. The Orange County, CA school offers tracks in accounting, business analytics, entertainment and media management, entrepreneurship, finance, global business, marketing, and strategic management. The school also offers a variety of dual degrees, including an MBA/MFA in Film & TV Producing.
The University of San Diego School of Business Administration MBA currently costs $1,420 per credit. With a 56-credit requirement for the two-year program, the cost without fees comes to around $19,880 per semester. It is tied with the aforementioned Argyros School of Business at 79th overall on the U.S. News list of the country’s best business schools.
USD’s curriculum is based on four pillars: Leadership development; business function core; corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and ethics; integrative problem solving. For students with a global mindset, the International MBA has the same cost per credit, but requires only 44 credits.
In addition to being affordable, the Lerner College of Business is located in Delaware, where tax-free shopping makes the cost of living far less daunting. The Lerner MBA costs just $825 per credit for Delaware residents, and $1,000 per credit for those from out of state. This puts total cost per semester in a range from $9,075-$11,000.
Lerner MBAs can choose from a variety of concentrations, including (but not limited to): business analytics, international business, and sport management. Students can pursue a full-time, part-time, online, or hybrid MBA. Pursuing a hybrid of online and on-campus courses may also be fiscally helpful, since online credits tend to be more cost-effective.
The CSU College of Business offers several options for students pursuing an MBA. The school has a nationally renowned online MBA program, and also offers a Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA, an Executive MBA, and an Evening MBA.
According to U.S. News, tuition for the full-time program is $757 per credit for in-state students and $1,557 per credit for out-of-state students. Given the huge cost cut for Colorado natives, CSU may be a prudent choice for residents of the state.
Students who are NYC-bound might consider applying to the Pace University Lubin School of Business. The total cost of an MBA education at Lubin education can vary, as different tracks require a different number of credits. However, at $1,267 per credit, the cost can be very manageable, particularly considering its prime spot in downtown Manhattan and all of the internship and job opportunities this location presents. Particularly for those with a bent toward accounting or finance, Lubin may be the perfect launching pad for a career in the big city. A substantial 92 percent of recent grads found jobs upon graduating.
MBA and Innovation: Our 4 Favorite Denver Schools for Entrepreneurs
Colorado’s population and economy have been rapidly expanding in recent years. The Denver Post estimates that, by 2050, Colorado’s population could increase to 8.5 million people: a 64 percent increase from the current population of 5.5. The economic and population boom make Denver an ideal place to launch a business. Denver is also less than an hour from Boulder, a city Inc. Magazine refers to as “America’s Startup Capital.” All in all, Denver metro is starting to look like a no-brainer for budding entrepreneurs.
But turning an idea into a company involves making infinite difficult decisions about business issues and strategy. According to Forbes, 90 percent of start ups eventually fail. Earning an MBA means gaining access to business networks, knowledge, and resources, and it can be an excellent way to gain the edge you need in order to help your idea thrive. Below, we’ve laid out four of our favorite Denver MBA programs for entrepreneurs.
University of Denver – Daniels College of Business
Students who want to start a business would be remiss not to consider the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, which was recently listed among Inc. Magazine’s “15 Most Innovative MBA Programs.” Forbes also ranked University of Denver in the “Top 50 for Startups” as recently as 2014. Daniels grads have gone on to start their own companies, and to find creative ways to meet the needs of their community. Leo Osahor (MBA 2007, MSM 2007) developed FlightSpeak, the largest and most detailed airport app to date. The app allows travelers to view security wait times, shopping options and coupon offers, and WIFI info for 315 airports around the world. The school also helps sponsor an annual Pitch Competition that fosters entrepreneurship by allowing graduate and undergraduate students to present their company or product ideas to a panel of local business owners. Winners receive a $1,000 cash prize that lets them take steps toward bringing their ideas to fruition.
The Daniels College of Business/Photo via Daniels.edu
Colorado State University College of Business
The Colorado State University College of Business has an entire institute devoted to entrepreneurship. The Institute for Entrepreneurship offers several programs outside of the classroom that help budding entrepreneurs gain the insight and resources they need to embark on their business ventures. According to the school, the institute hosts annual events such as Women Entrepreneurs’ Leadership Summit, Venture Adventure Challenge, and the Distinguished Entrepreneur speaker series.
University of Colorado – Denver Business School
The University of Colorado’s Denver Business School MBA program provides the option of pursuing an entrepreneurship specialization. This specialization allows students to explore a breadth of topics including web development, personal branding, and social entrepreneurship. MBAs with this specialization devote 12 of their 15 elective credits to entrepreneurship-related courses. University of Colorado’s Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship supplies students aiming to start their own business with additional resources, such as career coaching, networking, job recruitment, and internship opportunities.
University of Colorado, Boulder – Leeds School of Business
Students at the University of Colorado, Boulder’s Leeds School of Business will have no trouble accruing the knowledge and skills necessary to start their own business. Leeds students can pursue an MBA with an entrepreneurship focus. In fact, the school offers so many entrepreneurship electives, there are six sub-categories students can use to tailor their educational trajectory to their specific goals. Entrepreneurship MBAs can focus on New Venture Finance, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Entrepreneurial Practice, Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, or New Venture Creation. Leeds School of Business has inspired innovators such as Brent Handler, the destination club pioneer who co-founded Exclusive Resorts.
Finding Your Ideal Marketing MBA in Denver
Earning an MBA degree is one of the best things a professional can do at any level of their career to develop a rock solid foundation of business knowledge. This generalized education not only provides students with the facts and figures they need to start or run a business, but also with the ability to be effective managers and leaders.
While many students pursuing an MBA can appreciate the open-ended nature of the degree as it keeps a number of postgraduate opportunities open to them, others may look for a more focused direction. Luckily, many MBA programs offer concentrations or majors for the degree, providing students with industry-specific training without sacrificing the strong foundational knowledge offered by an MBA.
With a strong local economy and average salary significantly above the national average, the Denver metro area has been rated the fourth best city in the country for starting a new business. Whether you are an executive looking to expand their leadership opportunities or still early in your career, Denver could be the perfect place to earn a degree and grow in your career. And with the many specialization opportunities available at Denver business schools, students with interest in a field like marketing have numerous opportunities to expand their education.
Colorado State University College of Business
The Colorado State University College of Business offers an online graduate certificate in Marketing Management for students enrolled in any of the school’s MBA programs. In addition to earning an MBA and the core courses for the degree, CSU students can pursue an additional nine credits with a particular focus in marketing.
All of the courses are taught by faculty at the College of Business’ Department of Marketing and are offered online to offer students full flexibility. The curriculum for the certificate includes courses such as: marketing Strategy and Planning, Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior, and Strategic Selling for Business Customers.
University of Colorado – Denver Business School
Students at the University of Colorado Denver Business School can use their elective credits of their MBA degree to specialize in marketing. At UC Denver, the Marketing specialization provides students with the necessary skills and ability to manage a firm and build profitable, long-term relationships. And although marketing may seem a broad focus for a degree, students can consult with the university’s marketing faculty to help narrow their focus and select the electives best suited to their career goals.
Students will take their MBA core courses in addition to 12 elective credits for Marketing specialization courses. Subjects in the marketing specialization may include topics like: Marketing Management, Buyer Behavior, Customer Relationship Management, Services Marketing, and more.
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University of Colorado, Boulder – Leeds School of Business
At the UC Boulder Leeds School of Business, students can choose marketing as an area of expertise for their MBA degree. This program will help students prepare for a role in an ever-changing global marketplace, allowing MBA graduates to better navigate the unique challenges of markets and entrepreneurship throughout the world. By focusing their MBA in marketing, UC Boulder students will develop the necessary skills to serve in a variety of ways within the industry, from marketing management to new product development, or consulting.
The UC Boulder Marketing MBA offers a number of elective options that can help students further customize their focus in marketing, from courses like Market Intelligence, Pricing Strategy & Tactics, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Entrepreneurial Marketing.
University of Denver – Daniels College of Business
The Daniels College of Business MBA, ranked among the top 10 most innovative MBA programs in the country by Inc. Magazine earlier this year, is uniquely structured around four core business challenges. Categorized as an enterprise, social good, corporate and global challenge, students simultaneously take classes and work on the challenges, having the chance to apply immediately what they’ve learned.
Included in the Denver MBA’s structure are six electives, four of which can be focused in a particular area to comprise a concentration. For those interested in concentrating in marketing, Daniels provides the hands-on learning in subjects like Digital Marketing and Brand Management that will give students the skills they need to achieve success in the industry.
