Retail Real Estate Case Competitions
ICSC hosts two annual case competitions that create an avenue for undergraduate students to showcase their problem-solving skills by tackling challenging retail real estate scenarios.
Case competition team members work together to develop a strategy for addressing the issues assigned to them. They then present their solutions to a curated group of industry leaders and professionals. The highest scoring teams in these competitions win monetary awards, are recognized in Commerce + Communities Today, and more.
See below for information on the ICSC Foundation Case Competition and the ICSC & UNC Retail Real Estate Case Competition, followed by articles detailing past competitions and winning teams.
ICSC Foundation Case Competition
Our University Partners are invited to participate in the ICSC Foundation Case Competition, a virtual challenge that takes place annually in November. Teams may be comprised of four undergraduate students from the same university. Each university may enter only one team. Students may be from any field of study, including but not limited to real estate, finance, architecture, law and engineering.
Judges for this competition are ICSC Members who are experienced professionals and leaders in the retail real estate industry.
The highest scoring teams will receive monetary awards in the following amounts:
- 1st place: $2,500, plus an all-expenses-paid trip to ICSC LAS VEGAS for all members of the team
- 2nd place: $2,000
- 3rd place: $1,500
2024
First Place: University of Guelph
Second Place: Southern Methodist University
Third Place: Rutgers University
2023
First Place: Temple University
Second Place: Rutgers University
Third Place: University of Wisconsin at Madison
2022
First Place: University of British Columbia
Second PlaceUniversity of Guelph
Third Place: Indiana University
ICSC & UNC Retail Real Estate Case Competition
The ICSC Foundation has partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to host the ICSC & UNC Retail Real Estate Competition, which takes place every year at our premier event, ICSC LAS VEGAS. We invite our University Partners to each enter one team. Teams may be comprised of four undergraduate students from the same university. Participating ICSC Student Members experience ICSC LAS VEGAS before, during and after the competition.
Travel and accommodations are the responsibility of the team members. Registration for the event will be complimentary.
The highest scoring teams will receive monetary awards in the amounts listed below:
- 1st place: $10,000
- 2nd place: $6,000
- 3rd place: $2,000 (Two winning teams are selected at this level.)
2025
First Place: Penn State University
Second Place: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: Cornell University
Finalist: University of Texas at Austin
2024
First Place: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Second Place: Indiana University at Bloomington
Finalist: California State University, Fullerton
Finalist: The University of Mississippi
2023
First Place: Indiana University at Bloomington
Second Place: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Finalist: Villanova University
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