Earning a real estate degree online guides students through the necessary curriculum to start, or to advance their career. Each state has their own requirements for real estate licensure, with education being at the forefront of those requirements.
Reasons to Earn a Real Estate Degree Online
Working in real estate may seem like the dream job and career. There are no time clocks or sign-in sheets to strictly adhere to, and no entry-level salary with little opportunity for a salary increase.
Some career fields require several years of study with advanced degrees or residency requirements. Earning a real estate degree allows students to complete the courses that are required to start or continue their real estate education. Some students continue their education after completing the minimum requirements with a masters in real estate when they want to gain further expertise to excel as a top real estate agent or to earn knowledge and skills for a specialty area.
The Georgetown School of Continuing Studies further explains that earning an advanced degree can potentially erase years off the journey to career progress. Earning the real estate degree online also allows students to gain access to networking connections that they otherwise may not have if only attempting to start a career in real estate without earning the degree. Earning an online degree in real estate also provides students with the knowledge of the legal aspects of the real estate industry.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that even when the real estate market slows, that people still turn to real estate sales agents and brokers when looking to buy a home, to sell their home, or when relocating, such as when they find a new job.
These online real estate degree programs provide students with a variety of skills and required knowledge to work in the industry. The tuition covers the cost of one credit hour of study, and does not cover other expenses such as materials, supplies, or fees. Remember that it is ultimately up to the student to know the real estate licensure requirements for their state.
14 Best Real Estate Degree Online
1. Houston Community College
Houston Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Real Estate degree program that provides an introduction to the various aspects and opportunities for real estate professionals. Students study topics in real estate principles, residential and commercial brokerage, property management and investment, and comparative market analysis. Other topics in the 60-credit online or hybrid format program includes real estate finance and real estate law.
Graduates meet the educational requirements to sit for the Texas Real Estate salesperson and brokerage licenses.
- Tuition: $107.50 per credit hour
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
2. Hinds Community College
The Associate in Applied Science program in Real Estate Technology at Hinds Community College provides students with an education in all phases of real estate, with specialized occupational instruction. The courses in real estate sales, real estate appraisal, and residential mortgage lending are examples of courses that helps to prepare students for a career in real estate.
- Tuition: est. $125 per credit hour
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
3. American Public University
The online Associate of Arts in Real Estate Studies degree at American Public University guides students through exploration of the education, skills, experience, and licenses required for a career in a variety of real estate positions. Students learn the principles, legal and ethical considerations in real estate.
The curriculum includes topics in real estate practice, property management, finance, property appraisal, investment evaluations, internet marketing and research, and how to develop personal marketing, goals, and actions.
There are no admission or registration fees. Military Grant students receive a tuition discount.
- Tuition: $285 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission, ASBSP
4. University of Memphis
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Finance with a Real Estate concentration at the University of Memphis to learn the basic concepts involved in real estate careers, along with the required real estate principles and analytical tools necessary for success in the industry. The 120-credit hour online program is designed for students that want a career in real estate or a related field, including real estate sales, real estate investments, or real estate valuation and assessment.
- Tuition: $342 per credit hour
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
5. Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Real Estate specialization for students that want a career in real estate. The program takes a “multi-disciplinary approach” to real estate education, focusing on the analytical and professional skills needed for a career as a sales agent or in the economic development of the industry.
Students learn through the Urban Land Institute’s UrbanPlan Project, which is a realistic curriculum that teaches students about housing development in the U.S. Students also meet with current real estate professionals.
Students complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of the 120-credit hour program at Old Dominion University. Active-duty members of the military may qualify for a tuition discount.
- Tuition: $360 per credit hour
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
6. Clarion University of Pennsylvania
The Department of Finance, Law, Accounting, and Real Estate at Clarion University of Pennsylvania offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in Real Estate for students that are interested in a career in real estate. Students prepare for their choice of focus in real estate development, appraisal, real estate brokerage, property management and investment analysis.
Students completing the program online have the same opportunities as students completing the program in the traditional classroom setting, which includes classroom instruction, field projects, and real-life experiences. Students that successfully complete the program satisfy the educational requirements for licensure for the broker’s or salesperson’s in Pennsylvania.
- Tuition: $322 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; AACSB – Associate to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
7. Florida State University
The online, part-time MBA with Real Estate specialization at Florida State University gives busy students the opportunity to complete their degree without taking time from work or family. The 39-credit hour program focuses on real estate finance and analysis. It includes the same rigorous curriculum as the traditional full-time program. The school indicates that this is one of the most successful programs in the country, with the school being home to the FSU Real Estate Center, which features interactive, engaging activities.
- Tuition per credit hour: $780.18 (in-state), $810.24 (out-of-state)
- Accreditation: AACSB
8. New England College
New England College offers an online Master of Science in Management: Real Estate Management degree consisting of 36-credit hours of study. Students focus on gaining in depth knowledge and skills related to real estate industry, management and leadership. Some topics covered in the curriculum include real estate theories and best practices, developing expertise in research, project management, and strategic thinking as it relates to real estate, leadership and communications in real estate, and gaining an understanding of the global real estate market.
- Tuition: $576 per credit hour
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
9. Coastal Carolina University
The online Master of Business Administration in Commercial and Investment Real Estate at Coastal Carolina University concentration provides students with the opportunity to complete the 30-credit hour program in as little as 12 months. Students complete the 10 courses in an entirely online format, gaining knowledge in areas such as property investment, market analysis, and government relations to acquisition, management, and disposition.
- Tuition: $598 per credit hour
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
10. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers a variety of real estate degree online programs, including the accelerated Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) degree. The program is suitable for professionals that want a deeper overall understanding of the real estate industry, as well as individuals that want to become real estate industry leaders or that intend on a career in real estate development.
Some topics covered in the program include the principles of real estate, advanced real estate investment analysis, the fundamentals of real estate finance, technologies and data sources, and responsible property investment and sustainability.
Students complete coursework of the 30-credit hour program in 7.5-week sessions, rather than the traditional 15-week format.
- Tuition: $850 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
11. Florida International University
The online Master of Science in International Real Estate program at Florida International University prepares real estate professionals for the next step in their career, with the opportunity to complete the 30-credit hour program in as little as 10 to 12 months. Students gain skills in all phases of real estate, including analysis, valuations, financing, closing transactions, and other aspects of the industry that leads to gaining a competitive edge.
Students have the benefit of developing strong network of connections in the real estate industry, and to become ARGUS-certified. ARGUS certification is the challenging certification recognized by the commercial real estate industry. Having this certification significantly increases the marketability of graduates entering the corporate real estate field. The cost of the certification is included in the tuition rate.
- Tuition: est. $933.33 per credit hour
- Accreditation: AACSB
12. Saint Joseph’s University
Students that want to complete an online real estate program at Saint Joseph’s University choose the Master of Science in Finance with a real estate track option. Students hone their existing skills in real estate and finance, and gain new skills focused on learning to succeed in the often fast-paced real estate industry.
Students complete courses such as Real Estate Development and Construction, and Commercial Real Estate Valuation. The program is connected to a well-established network of alumni leaders in the real estate industry.
- Tuition: $1,107 per credit hour
- Accreditation: AACSB
13. Georgetown University
The Georgetown University Office of Continuing Studies offers an online Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate degree that allows graduates to advance their career opportunities. Students also gain knowledge to meet the demands of real estate markets, and to enhance their leadership skills while gaining insight into real estate ethics.
Students complete 33 credit hours in the two-year program.
- Tuition: $1,441 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, approved by Graduate School at Georgetown
14. University of Denver
The Bachelor’s in Real Estate and the Built Environment program at the University of Denver prepares students for a real estate career or advanced studies with a multi-disciplinary approach. Students choose from a concentration in real estate, property development, or construction management.
Students complete courses such as Corporate Real Estate Management, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Practices and Principles, and Real Estate Taxation. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in the 4 + 1 Program, which allows students to combine their bachelor’s degree with the master’s degree program and earn both degrees in a shorter time frame. Students may also enroll directly into the Master’s in Real Estate and the Built Environment program if they decide to follow the traditional bachelor’s degree online curriculum.
- Tuition: $1,490 per credit hour
- Accreditation: AACSB
Our Methodology
We developed a list of the top accredited real estate degree online programs, and ranked them by the cost of tuition. We included only the best degree programs, and did not include any programs that are limited to certificates.
Would you like to have your school included in our rankings? Do you need to update the information that we have for your school? Please contact us and we will be happy to help you.
Do you need assistance finding the right online college or university? We can help you with that, based on the program that you select.
