+1 Master’s in Real Estate Pathway

Plan for future success in the real estate industry

Set yourself up for a successful career in real estate and expand your knowledge of the field by pairing a Cornell bachelor’s degree (any program) with a master’s in real estate.. This pathway into the Baker MPS-RE program allows exceptional undergraduates enrolled at Cornell University to complete the first year of the Baker MPS, while still an undergraduate, making it possible to obtain the master’s in real estate with just one additional year following completion of the undergraduate degree.

The undergraduate +1 MPS-RE at a glance

This unique educational opportunity includes all the elements of the traditional two-year Baker Program in Real Estate. Students gain access to the world’s largest full-time real estate faculty and hands-on experiences within the industry, setting them apart from their peers.

2 degrees awarded

Bachelor’s in chosen undergraduate major and MPS in Real Estate

Location

Ithaca, NY and New York City, NY*

Format

Full-time residential and STEM-designated

Length

Five years (One additional year beyond the undergraduate program)**

_{*Enrollment in NYC pathway is optional}
_{**Students enrolled in five-year undergraduate programming will have a six-year program length}

Why pursue the +1 pathway?

Earn a bachelor’s degree of your choosing at Cornell and supplement that knowledge with an Ivy League real estate education in a fifth year at the university.

Maximize your time at Cornell

The +1 MPS-RE track allows Cornell undergraduates to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees on a reduced timeline. This accelerates their educational, professional, and financial potential after leaving the institution.

Cornell real estate students in NYC exiting the subway station and walking onto the city streets

Experience NYC real estate

Students can opt to spend their their final year of the program in NYC to gain valuable on-the-ground experience. This includes for-credit experiential learning and collaborations with local companies and/or government offices on real-world projects. cg

Two students in professional attire engaging in classroom lecture

Accelerated Career Success

Graduates from the Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate see continued success after completing their studies. Of 2025 graduates, 94 percent received job offers within six months of graduation, reporting an average base salary of $106,111 for US-based jobs.

The MPS-RE curriculum

The program requires a total of 62 credit hours consisting of 33.5 credit hours of required core coursework and 28.5 credits of additional electives relevant to your specific interest in real estate. Students accepted into the +1 pathway will begin their MPS-RE will begin coursework for the program in their final year of undergraduate study, with up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework permitted to count toward completion of both the undergraduate and the Baker MPS-RE degrees.

Students in the +1 pathway will then transition into their final year of study, concentrated entirely on the MPS-RE, with the option to continue study in Ithaca or transition to NYC for for an immersive second-year experience.

Review the full MPS-RE curriculum

Immersive student experience

The Baker MPS-RE program offers countless opportunities to grow your network and engage with the real estate industry. From domestic and international real estate treks to involvement in prestigious student organizations and access to a distinguished alumni community, you’ll have the resources and connections to make the most of your time in the program.

More information on how you can connect is available via the MPS-RE student experience page.

Application timeline

Applications are to be submitted prior to start of an applicant’s final year of a Cornell Bachelor’s degree program

January 15

Application open for +1 pathway

March 1

First submission deadline for +1 pathway

April 15

Second submission deadline for +1 pathway

May

Rolling consideration

+1 pathway frequently asked questions

Does graduate coursework completed as a part of undergraduate study count towards the MPS-RE?

Up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework can count toward completion of both the undergraduate and the Baker MPS-RE degrees. All other credit hour requirements of your undergraduate degree of choice must be satisfied through coursework that does not count toward completion of the Baker MPS-RE.

Can undergraduates who are in programs that are not 4 years in length enroll in the program?

Students who meet the prerequisites are permitted to complete the program regardless of undergraduate program length. Admitted students automatically matriculate into the Baker MPS-RE program upon conferral of the undergraduate degree.

The number of semesters required to earn an undergraduate degree plus the Baker MPS-RE is always two semesters beyond the typical number required for a student’s chosen undergraduate program.

Can students enroll in this program and still complete an undergraduate real estate minor?

Students who have earned sufficient credits to earn the real estate minor and matriculate into the +1 program can earn both credentials.

Is the program open to non-Cornell undergraduates?

The Cornell MPS-RE is a rigorous real estate graduate degree unlike any other master’s program available. To ensure that students get the comprehensive real estate education this program guarantees, students completing their bachelor’s degrees outside of Cornell are not eligible for the accelerated program and should pursue the traditional two-year MPS-RE provided by the Rubacha Department of Real Estate.

Is the final year in NYC required?

No, all Baker MPS-RE students have the option to remain in Ithaca, NY for their final year of the program or transition to NYC to complete the program.

Apply to the +1 pathway

Applicants to the +1 pathway should plan to apply in the final semester of their penultimate year of undergraduate study (for example, students planning to finish their undergraduate degree in the spring of 2026 should apply to the +1 pathway in the spring of 2025).

Students applying outside of this window can still be considered and are asked to contact the Baker program team at bakerprogram@cornell.edu to have their information reviewed.

+1 Pathway applicants should note differences in their required application materials.

Apply now

The Rubacha Department of Real Estate is a cross-college department jointly led by the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.