Why This Matters

  • 32,400 NEW REAL ESTATE AGENT JOBS EXPECTED

    Employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is predicted to remain strong, with 7 percent projected job growth through 2028 due to an improving job market and rising consumer spending.

  • APPRAISAL JOBS TO RISE 7% IN NEXT DECADE

    Real estate appraisers and assessors provide estimates of the value of buildings and land to be used in negotiations and sales. Employment in this area of real estate is expected to also be strong.

  • EARN $13,000 MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S

    Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in real estate earn an average annual salary of $65,000 per year. Comparatively, those with a master’s degree earn $78,000 per year on average.

Our Research

For this list, we concentrated on graduate-level real estate programs. Students can obtain several different types of graduate degrees in real estate, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Real Estate Development (MRED).

We also looked primarily for programs that can be completed online, to ensure accessibility for all students. Some programs are also offered on-campus or in hybrid formats.

All of the programs we reviewed are offered by regionally accredited institutions. This is an added assurance that programs meet high standards of quality for postsecondary education. Many of these degrees also have programmatic accreditation through business-related bodies like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

We evaluated each program based on reputation, outcomes, flexibility, faculty, course offerings, and cost, then assigned each of program an Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Our top picks for the best online master’s in real estate are affordable, highly-regarded, and flexible. (For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.)

  • 55 hours to write this article
  • 183 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 279 education programs we compared

The Top 10 Online Master’s in Real Estate

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What You Should Know About This Degree

To work professionally as a real estate broker or sales agents, individuals must have a state-issued license. The licensure requirements vary, but they typically include completing a set number of classes in real estate before taking an exam.

However, this does not mean that you need a full master’s degree in real estate in order to become a licensed real estate agent. Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s real estate license requirements, and consider your own professional goals before committing the time and effort to a master’s degree.

Individuals should also keep in mind that licenses are typically not transferable between states. If you intend on practicing real estate across multiple states, or if you move to a different state, you should be prepared to take multiple exams. Real estate agents must also complete continuing education classes periodically to maintain their licenses.

The benefit of a master’s in real estate is that most programs allow students to go in-depth in areas like law, development, market analysis, and international real estate.

Although the programs on our list are primarily delivered online, some do have in-person requirements for residencies or experiential learning components. Review the plans of study carefully so you are aware of any in-person requirements you must accommodate.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Master’s in Real Estate programs:

  • Do I possess the right qualities to be a real estate agent? A real estate master’s program can teach you the necessary skills for the job, but being successful as a real estate agent requires certain natural aptitudes. You must be adept at business management, communication, organization, customer service, and problem-solving. It’s important to assess your natural abilities to determine if this career is right for you.
  • Am I eligible for this program? It’s also important to check minimum eligibility requirements before applying to a program. Some master’s in real estate programs require that students have experience in real estate, or coursework in business, finance, or a related field.

Other steps you should be taking at this point include researching application deadlines, gathering application materials, and considering options for funding your graduate degree. If you have questions about the admissions procedures for a program, contact their admissions department. Funding can come from institutional sources like scholarships and assistantships, or from outside sources like federal student loans, or employer tuition benefits.