PhD in Real Estate (PhD)

Tuition is Tuition rates are subject to change. Doctoral students pay $980 per credit hour for Fall 2026–Summer 2027., and the application deadline for the Jan 2027 intake is Dec 15, 2026.

The PhD in Real Estate Management is a 100% online program designed for professionals in commercial and residential real estate. Students complete either a dissertation or a publication track with three peer-reviewed research outputs. The program emphasizes original research in real estate technology and management. It is structured for part-time study with no on-campus requirements.

Focus areas include Real Estate Technology, Commercial Real Estate Management, Residential Real Estate Management, Real Estate Research Methods, Real Estate Policy, Real Estate Data Analytics.

The program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours, with credits allocated to coursework, dissertation or publication research, and committee approvals. Additional credits may be needed based on dissertation or publication progress.

Graduates pursue academic careers, research roles in real estate firms, and policy development positions in government and industry.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Required documents include transcripts, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. A standardized test is not required.

The programme totals about 60 credit hours. 100% online, part-time, no on-campus residencies required. For international students, tuition is well below the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 78% of applicants.

Capitol Technology University began in Washington, D.C., in 1927 as the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute, founded by Navy veteran and radio operator Eugene H. Rietzke. It started as a correspondence school before opening a residence division with laboratory instruction in 1932. The institution later became Capitol Institute of Technology, moved to Kensington in 1969, and established its campus in Laurel in 1980. The name changed to Capitol College in the late 1980s and to Capitol Technology University in 2014.

Academic strengths center on technology and applied learning. Programs cover cybersecurity, cyberpsychology, computer science, data science, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, engineering, aerospace and astronautical engineering, aviation, healthcare, construction and safety, management of technology, and intelligence and global security. The university launched a master's program in network security in 2001, followed by the nation's first synchronously online master's degree in cybersecurity. Its doctoral programs include information assurance and management and decision sciences.

The Laurel campus includes academic facilities, laboratories, the Space Operations Institute, the Cyber Battle Lab, the John G. and Beverly A. Puente Library, and the Avrum Gudelsky Memorial Auditorium. A partnership with NASA supports astronautical engineering programs and practical training. Online study is a significant part of the university's offering, with doctoral students accepted from across the globe. Its location in the Washington, D.C. region places students close to government agencies, corporate partners, and a major technology employment market.