MBA Launches Cleveland State University Mortgage Banking Bound Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 15, 2025) - MBA Education, the award-winning education division of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today launched its Mortgage Banking Bound (MBB) program at Cleveland State University. The program offers a three-credit undergraduate course on residential mortgage origination and processing. Fourteen students are currently enrolled in the 2025 spring semester course that runs from January 15, 2025, until the end of April.

"I am excited that MBA's successful, Mortgage Banking Bound program is expanding to Cleveland State University, offering students a fully-accredited course that kick-starts the possibility of having a fulfilling career in real estate finance," said Laura Escobar, 2025 MBA Chair and President of Lennar Mortgage. "I send my deepest gratitude to Professor Debbie Hoffman and to the many MBA member companies that will commit their time, expertise, and financial commitments to support these interested students."

This course is available to students at a junior-standing or above as an elective in the Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University. The course will lay a solid foundation for a successful career in mortgage banking, with a particular eye towards mortgage loan origination and processing. The program's content is derived from MBA Education's School of Loan Origination course and five web-based self-study courses from MBA Education's library.

The university's program is led by adjunct Professor Debbie Hoffman, current Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at Cleveland State University College of Law. Select classes will be instructed by industry practitioners from MBA member companies, including Truist, Success Mortgage Partners, Rocket Mortgage, Mphasis Digital Risk, LLC, Union Home Mortgage, Rate, Citi, Ruoff Mortgage, NFM Lending, Howard Hanna Financial Services, and The Huntington National Bank.

Graduating students will be equipped with skills necessary for entry-level positions and internships in loan production roles and will have connections to a network of more than 2,000 MBA members companies within the mortgage banking industry.

MBA Education's MBB program is also available at Barry University and Middle Tennessee State University for a 100-Hour Executive Certificate Program, as well as Level I certificate programs. MBA is looking to expand the MBB program to other top colleges and universities.

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