Higher Education in Real Estate

[Kanise Kelley]

I wasn't sure where to put question so I suppose it's appropriate here. A couple of months I was dead set on going back to school and getting a Master of Science in Real Estate. I have a bachelor's in civil engineering and I want to work with companies that build shopping malls, hotels, etc, but more on the business side not just the construction side. I thought a MSRE would make me a better candidate.

But now i'm wondering if it's really worth it. I got my financial package in the mail and it wants to put me $47,000 in debt! And the course descriptions don't even seem to touch on the info I read here and research.

My question is, does anyone have a Master's in Real Estate or an MBA emphasis in RE? And do you feel it was worth your time and money? Or have you learned more outside of your formal schooling?

Thanks in advance ^_^

[Eric Johnson]

Hello Kanise. I'm sure having an MSRE degree would certainly be appealing in certain circumstances. However, in my humble opinion, you'd be wasting your time and precious resources. I have a friend in the DC area that NEVER went to college and this guy is an extremely successful real estate investor. With that said, you can use the education that you've already obtained, along with studying and asking questions here on BiggerPockets, to become that successful commercial real estate investor you desire to be. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that college education is a waste of time and money. Dr. Carter G. Woodson once said that what we're merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.