Why This Matters

  • 37% OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS HAVE A BACHELOR’S DEGREE

    According to O*Net, 37% of real estate brokers surveyed have a bachelor’s degree, and 24% have some college experience.

  • 11,300 JOBS EXPECTED BETWEEN 2019 TO 2029

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that for the 10-year period between 2019 and 2029, there will be an estimated 11,300 new jobs in the U.S. for real estate brokers and sales agents.

  • REAL ESTATE AGENTS EARN $51,220 PER YEAR ON AVERAGE

    The median annual pay for real estate brokers and agents in 2020 is $51,220, which is an hourly rate of $24.63 per hour.

Our Research

Our guide features both private and public higher learning institutions. Some of the programs award Associate of Applied Science degrees while others are Bachelor of Science programs in fields such as real estate, business administration, and finance. There are also real estate certificate programs on the list.

All the programs we chose for this list are accredited, mostly by regional accreditors such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). An accredited degree can be transferred to another school for continuing education and is professionally recognized.

  • 63 hours to write this article
  • 108 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 112 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Online Real Estate Programs

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What You Should Know About This Degree

An online associate or bachelor’s degree in real estate is one option to consider, as is a real estate certificate from a community college. There are also similar degrees that may help you in your real estate career, such as a bachelor’s in business administration or a degree in finance.

Real estate agents can expect industry growth of 2% over the next 10 years. Although this rate of growth is considered slow, it still amounts to thousands of new job openings.

Each state has its own licensing requirements for real estate agents. The majority of states have educational requirements, and a state licensing exam must be passed to become a real estate professional.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching the best online real estate programs:

  • Am I eligible for this program? If you have a high school diploma or equivalency, you are likely eligible for a real estate certificate program or associate degree program. Bachelor’s degree programs usually require an associate degree for admission. Some schools may have entrance exam requirements.
  • Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? For students who enjoy real-time interaction with their instructors and other students, the synchronous course format is best because it meets online at a scheduled time. Asynchronous courses can be completed at your own pace and are good for working students, although there are still program deadlines.

You should also consider your financial aid options. Through the U.S. Department of Education, you can get financial assistance for college in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and even work-study programs.