Certificate in CRE from BU vs MS in CRE from NYU/Georgetown

I work in RE Asset Management and I am interested in moving over to CRE credit/underwriting in a few years; maybe for a life company or underwriting CMBS notes. However, I do not possess a business or finance degree, rather a BA in English. Would a certificate in RE Finance from BU help me pursue this path? Or would I have to go for a masters in CRE from NYU or Georgetown (both are online programs)? I am concerned about the negative connotations associated with online programs. However, I am really not sure what to make of BU's certificate. And I also don't want to fork over $$$ for an MBA or get an MSF.

 

I personally think certificate programs are largely a waste of money and just serve as revenue generating machines for universities. If you want to learn underwriting and are committed to spending some money to get there, check out REFM or BIWS, which will give you much more bang for the buck and drill down on the underwriting issues much more directly than a certificate program will. A degree program is a much bigger commitment in terms of both time & money. Doesn't sound like you are fully invested in that option quite yet, which is fine.

 

FYI, Unless they've changed it in the last month, NYU's program is only online for the first portion. You have to physically go for the second half.

Source: Looked seriously at the programs mentioned, decided I didn't need another masters and am learning on the job instead if there's anything I don't understand or that was outside the scope of my MBA.

 

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