Ten years ago, I was half way through and MBA when I read RDPD. 

My son just graduated with his MBA and it was a life-directing experience for him.  

I have a BA in Environmental Studies and an MBA with a focus on sustainable/green business.

And there are plenty of people who get paid VERY well--more than most investors will ever make yearly--$200K or more per year being an engineer or MBA, not to mention a doctor or whatnot.

I'm 27 and have an MBA and an office job I hate.

Rather than a certificate program, though, I think you are more likely to get a good analyst job with a full master's degree in real estate or, better yet, an MBA with a real estate focus.  

Bill Gulley And @J Scott has a much better understanding of free-market capitalism (with or without an MBA).

I guess the definition of "Net Returns" changed since I got my MBA in finance way back in '88. :)

Maybe go for an MBA and do an internship in the meantime. 

Being an MBA and student of finance, my brain automatically evaluates everything we do to the financial sustainability ability.