REIA 2025 Graduate Scholarships

Description

The annual REIA scholarship is being offered to engage and support commercial real estate professionals as they complete an industry specific graduate and academic programs. REIA is looking for promising commercial real estate professionals to join our organization and participate as a member of our collaborative community.

Scholarship recipients will receive $5000 towards the cost of their education.

Scholarship winners and applicants achieving honorable mention will be invited to join REIA at no cost in the coming calendar year. All potential applicants are encouraged to attend REIA programming as guests and interact with membership. Participation is strongly encouraged for applicants, please join us at an upcoming program and take a moment to introduce yourself.

Eligibility

The 2025 scholarship is available to all students currently enrolled in a real estate specific program at participating universities. Candidates are either full-time students or part-time students employed full-time in the commercial real estate industry. Both enrollment and industry participation are requisite.

REIA is pleased to announce our academic partners and participating academic programs eligible in our 2025 Scholarship Program.

* DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business Real Estate Program
* Roosevelt University’s Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate
* University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business Real Estate Program
* Northwestern University's Guthrie Center for Real Estate Research - Graduate MBA

Selection Criteria

Selection will consider professional and academic success along with a candidate’s perceived desire and ability to benefit from and contribute to REIA. We are seeking current real estate students and professionals who will actively participate in our programs and thrive in our networking environment. Successful applicants can demonstrate a disposition towards developing and maintaining a professional network. Applicants should be able to explain how they will benefit from membership. Interaction is strongly encouraged and considered in selection. Applicants are encouraged to attend programming and introduce themselves to the membership. Other general criteria include:

▪ Professional experience and current role within the industry
▪ Graduate and/or coursework and academic success
▪ Career and personal interests
▪ Prior involvement in professional associations, networking communities, social organizations and/or other leadership roles

Applications will be accepted through August 15, 2025. Scholarship awards and honorable mention will be announced by September 2, 2025.

Applications

Applications may be found on the REIA website, REIA.org. Completed applications and related materials may be emailed directly to [email protected], please ensure the applicant’s name is noted in the subject line of the submission email(s).

To be considered for the 2025 scholarship, applicants must submit all materials by August 15, 2025. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Questions and clarifying emails are welcome.

As a supplement to the traditional application, candidates are asked to create a short introductory video (no more than 120 seconds) and answer one of the following free-response questions:

How will you benefit from your interaction with the REIA community and what role has professional networking played throughout your career?
Describe why you are deserving of a scholarship as it applies to your short and long term goals as a student and as a professional.
Have you been involved in a professional network and how were you able to participate and contribute?
What have you learned from your professional experience and how does it relate to REIA and the broader commercial real estate industry?

Applicants should prepare and include the following materials:

▪ REIA scholarship application
▪ A short writing sample in response to an unanswered free-response question (no more than 500 words)
▪ Current resume or link to LinkedIn profile
▪ Unofficial graduate and transcripts
▪ Two (2) brief letters of recommendation, one professional and one academic (Please do not include department heads)
▪ Any additional materials such as professional certifications, academic or professional accolades or other distinguishing information

REIA will schedule Zoom interviews the week of August 18, 2025 to be conducted between August 18 through August 25.

Please reach out to your academic advisor or to us directly at [email protected] for additional information. Good luck in your studies and come join us at our next scheduled event, a schedule of events may be found at www.REIA.org.

Scholarship Instructions - CLICK HERE

Scholarship Application - DePaul - CLICK HERE

Scholarship Application - Roosevelt - CLICK HERE

Scholarship Application - Northwestern - CLICK HERE

Scholarship Application - UW Madison - CLICK HERE