The Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate supports the education of its students and the continued success of its alumni through its numerous programs and resources.
The Institute, through the generous support of many industry leaders, has a number of scholarships available for students enrolled in the undergraduate major or graduate degree/certificate programs. A summary of the scholarships is listed below with links to more details about each scholarship.
Select this link to apply for an undergraduate scholarship
Select this link to apply for a graduate degree/certificate scholarship
Established in 2016, by James Connor, CEO, Prologis, the goal of The DREAM Fund Scholarship is to support diversity as well as overall excellence in the real estate industry. It seeks financially assist and support undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those interested in industrial real estate. The scholarship also provides mentoring, access to job opportunities at Prologis, and an annual luncheon. This fund provides a scholarship grant of $3,750 per semester for up to 4 semesters (a total of $15,000) as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship. View the fact sheet.
Established in 2011 by James Grusecki, Chairman, Northern Builders, the goal of this fund is to financially assist and support undergraduate real estate majors as they prepare to launch their real estate industry careers and graduate students who are early and mid-career persons in leadership track positions in the Chicago real estate sector, especially if there is a strong interest in industrial real estate. This fund provides a scholarship grant of $3,750 per semester for up to 4 semesters (a total of $15,000) as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship. View the fact sheet.
Established in 2007 by Hipolito Roldan, President, Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC), which oversees a wide range of community development activities designed to stabilize and enhance Latino communities by developing, managing and investing in ventures that increase the availability of affordable housing, promote economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life. The goal of this scholarship is to give opportunities to Hispanic students to obtain a graduate degree that combines academic and "hands on" experience in community development and real estate. This Fund provides an annual scholarship grant of $3,750 per semester for up to 4 semesters (a total of $15,000) as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship. View the fact sheet.
Established in 2019, in honor of Louis Kahnweiler, co-founder of Bennett & Kahnweiler (now Colliers), and his wife Ruth Kahnweiler, the goal of this fund is to financially support and assist the next generation of real estate leaders. This scholarship, which requires documentation of financial need, provides an annual scholarship of up to $20,000 (total $40,000), as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship.
The Winston Kennedy Scholarship was established in memory of Winston Kennedy, a former president of the Chicago Association of Realtors. The fund seeks to financially assist a student who is also qualified to work with the Institute as a graduate assistant to the real estate program over the course of a single, academic year. This grant of $7,500 is not renewable without application.
Established in 2007 by John Newman, a former president of the Specialty Banking Division of LaSalle Bank, the goal of this scholarship fund is to financially assist a student who is approved to work with the institute as a graduate assistant to the real estate program over the course of a single academic year. This grant of $7,500 is not renewable without application.
The goal of the Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago (LPBC) scholarship is to support overall excellence in the real estate industry. It seeks to recruit, educate, assist, and support educating students, particularly those interested in multi-family real estate. The fund provides an annual scholarship of $5,000 for a maximum of $10,000 over two years as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship. View the fact sheet.
DL3 Realty is a locally engaged and nationally-recognized full service real estate development firm that is dedicated to transforming communities through high-impact commercial real estate. From medical centers to grocery stores, DL3’s connection to community creates a pipeline of development opportunities that improve the quality of life for everyday Chicagoans. DL3 continues to expand through new developments and acquisitions of commercial sites, including an active pipeline of over $100 million in commercial projects designed to elevate Chicago’s urban communities. The group’s work began more than 30 years ago on Chicago’s far south side, which had declined after the social unrest of the 1960s.
DL3 Realty aims to increase accessibility to and the completion of certificate programs among post-baccalaureate students from underrepresented communities while promoting career opportunities within real estate development. Enhanced financial, academic and professional support will allow scholarship recipients to actively pursue and achieve their educational and career goals. The scholarship will provide up to two, $5,000 annual scholarships for students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in RE Development.
Established in 2010 by Daniel McCaffery, Chairman, McCaffery Interests, and Edmund Woodard, President, McCaffery Interests, the goal of this scholarship is to financially assist and support the next generation of real estate leaders. Preference for this scholarship will be directed towards students from underserved and underrepresented communities. The fund provides an annual scholarship of $7,500 for a maximum of $15,000 during the student’s junior and senior years, as long as the student fulfills the requirements of the scholarship. View the fact sheet.
The goal of the LaSalle Investment Management Scholarship is to support diversity and excellence in the real estate industry. It seeks to introduce, recruit, financially assist and educate students about the opportunities and potential of a career in real estate, particularly real estate management. This $10,000 scholarship will be awarded during a student's sophomore year and is open all Roosevelt students who meet the requirements. View the fact sheet. Applications are currently being accepted.
Rho Epsilon is the national honorary society for students enrolled in real estate courses or programs or who just have an interest in real estate.
To provide supplemental support of student success in the classroom and in the workplace, the Institute supports professional development courses that are provided, at no cost. The class sessions are held on campus in either the Urban Retail Properties Research Center (WB1210) or one of the computer labs at the university.
Mentorship is a key contributor to professional success. Each student enrolled in the real estate degree programs are provided access to Mentorship Rocket, an online mentoring platform. Through this platform, students can engage with numerous industry professionals to receive professional insights, career guidance and life advice.
With more than 340 graduates of the academic programs, the Institute is building a network of alumni to continue to support their connections to each other and the program, along with supporting their continued career success.
The Institute’s Advisory Board, comprised of 50 real estate industry leaders representing many of the unique specialties and disciplines in the real estate industry, is a great resource to students and alumni as they prepare for their careers in real estate. The Board members also support fundraising, industry outreach, mentoring and internship assistance and curriculum reviews.
All students in the undergraduate major and graduate real estate degree programs are provided free memberships in one of the industry’s trade associations, including IREM, NAIOP, ICSC, ULI and others.
The Institute provides complimentary registrations to all students in the real estate programs to attend the Fogelson Forum(s) and Annual Gala. Additionally, when possible the Institute arranges for, and funds, discounted registrations at numerous industry events in the city. Through the support of established funding students may have the opportunity to attend major industry events outside of Chicago.
The real estate degree programs are University Partners with two major industry credentialing organizations: The Appraisal Institute and CCIM. Universities participating in the MDP grant master’s degrees in real estate (with a concentration in real property valuation), or on a curriculum that includes courses with a valuation focus. The MDP enables graduate students to fulfill many of the educational requirements for the Appraisal Institute’s MAI Designated membership. Graduates within the last five years of real estate master's programs from approved colleges and universities will get credit for most of the core designation courses and are eligible to pursue the CCIM designation through its University Fast track process.
Located in the Marshall Bennett Institute office suite, the research center embodies the latest in real estate industry books, periodicals and training resources. The Center, which was created with mostly recyclable building products houses study desks, a media center, computer workstations, the Real Estate Institute (REI) Library and an incredible view of Buckingham Fountain and Lake Michigan.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Closed Friday
Location: 425 S. Wabash, WB1210C
Phone: 312.341.3767