The nation's 1st undergraduate-only in-classroom real estate investment program
After 13 years of dreaming and 2 years of intensive planning, the Center for Real Estate at Marquette University, supporting one of the university’s top-ranked undergraduate programs, launched the nation's first undergraduate classroom-based applied learning program in 2021: The Real Estate Asset Program (REAP). REAP’s inaugural cohort began in the Spring of 2022.
Adding to this impressive roster of experiential learning opportunities in the College of Business Administration, REAP’s applied learning model further sets Marquette's real estate program apart from other undergraduate programs, leading to more successful graduates, more engaged alumni, and more supportive industry partners.
The Spring 2025 application process for REAP is now closed! The next application process for the fall 2026 cohort will open in January/February 2026. If you have any questions please contact Vito Taphorn, Director for the Real Estate Asset Program, at vito.taphorn@marquette.edu.
Guidelines for Applying to the Real Estate Asset Program (Spring 2025)
Fill out the entire application
Complete both essays (500 words or less)
Attach your resume in the correct format (PDF and file name "Resume_Last Name_First Name")
Attach your graduation checklist (file name "Grad_Last Name_First Name")
Include a letter of recommendation from someone outside the Marquette real estate program, and either have the letter emailed to Vito Taphorn or attached in the application (file name: "LOR_Last Name_First Name")
Marquette real estate majors in their junior year are eligible to apply to participate in REAP. REAP’s mission is to provide an applied-learning environment for a select group of real estate program students in which they gain real-world experience in investment sourcing, underwriting, closing, management, and investor reporting. Participants will make investment recommendations to the investment committee, with oversight of a more than $2 million pledged-fund of equity for investment, based on their analysis.
Working with the REAP program director and investment committee as well as industry professionals, REAP students will apply their classroom training to make equity investment recommendations in actual real estate and then manage the ongoing investor reporting on behalf of investors.
REAP – CURRICULUM AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisite courses:
Introduction to Commercial Real Estate (REAL 3001)
Commercial Real Estate Finance (REAL 4002/FINA 4002)
REAP’s specialized curriculum:
Applied Real Estate Asset Management and Modeling (3 credits) - Students are prepared for active investing in real estate property by re-underwriting past and existing deals to learn the acquisitions and asset management process and investor reporting.
Intermediate Real Estate Investing (3 credits) —Students refine their skills through intensive underwriting of new deals and in-depth learning of the due diligence and market analysis process.
Advanced Real Estate Investing (3 credit)—Students polish their skills, complete any deals, transfer portfolio reporting, and provide mentoring to the incoming cohort of REAP students
Photo: REAP Cohort 2023 (L to R: Reed Casper, Benj Van Handel, Jackson Gearen, Grace Vanden Heuvel, Annie McDonough, Leigh Steiner, Melissa Variny, Gabby Boester, Harry Oatway, Vito Taphorn)
Watch REAP student and Marquette University alumnus Ava Villarreal (Bus Ad '24) discuss the REAP investment portfolio during the 2024 Marquette Real Estate Strategies Conference (May 1, 2024)
The Real Estate Asset Program is made possible through the generous support of the following individuals:
