Earning your real estate license in the Lone Star State is a great career move. However, every successful real estate journey starts with a good education. The best real estate schools should offer engaging courses and exceptional student support. With that, my team and I spent over a hundred hours researching and evaluating the best online real estate schools in Texas and narrowed them down to our top six picks. Let’s dive in!
- Kaplan: Best for career advice
- Champions School of Real Estate: Best for class formats
- Colibri Real Estate: Best for self-paced courses
- The CE Shop: Best for continuing education
- AceableAgent: Best for mobile
- RealEstateU: Best for straightforward courses
The Close’s top picks for best online real estate schools in Texas
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Need to learn more about Texas education requirements before choosing a school? Check our guide on How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas in 5 Easy Steps or jump to our Helpful Texas licensing info section.
Best for career advice: Kaplan
My expert opinion on Kaplan
Kaplan is my pick for the best online real estate school in Texas for career advice, thanks to its strong focus on professional development. Its Real Estate Accelerator and Career Mentor Connect programs will prepare you for the licensing exam and your first few years as a real estate agent. Check out our comprehensive Kaplan review for more information.
💡Room for improvement: Kaplan should add a pass guarantee to all their course packages. This feature would make students feel more confident in choosing Kaplan.
Kaplan cost
In Texas, Kaplan only offers self-paced courses. All packages include online test prep materials and weekly live mentorship sessions. The more expensive options include printed textbooks and live online coaching.
| Type of Education | Features | |
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| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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| Broker Prelicensing |
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Best for class formats: Champions School of Real Estate
My expert opinion on Champions School of Real Estate
Champions is the next best real estate school in Texas on my list for its class formats and quality education. It offers Blended Classroom, Virtual Classroom, Online Interactive, Online Correspondence, and Champions Advantage delivery methods, plus unlimited exam prep retakes for a year. If you want an in-person class option, Champions is the clear choice. It has campuses in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
💡Room for improvement: One thing worth calling out is that Champions doesn’t offer payment plans or a pass guarantee, given how expensive its packages are. However, prices aside, no other online real estate school in Texas will free you to mix and match all their course delivery methods, although it comes at a cost.
Champions School of Real Estate cost
Champions School of Real Estate’s courses are available in four formats: Blended Classroom, Virtual Classroom, Online Interactive, and Online Correspondence. But if you’d like to customize your experience by mixing the different delivery methods, simply choose Champions Advantage.
Best for self-paced courses: Colibri Real Estate
My expert opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Aside from its excellent learning platform, Colibri Real Estate is one of my top picks for the best online real estate schools in Texas because of all the extra features you’ll get from its self-paced course packages. If you’re a self-starter, I recommend the Ultimate Learning package because it’ll give you access to Colibri’s Career Booster Pack, including job aids for new agents, action plan templates, and more. Learn more about it in our Colibri Real Estate review.
💡Room for improvement: Colibri Real Estate should consider creating an online community where students can connect and share insights. This would add more value to its self-paced courses.
Colibri Real Estate cost
Almost all of Colibri Real Estate’s prelicensing packages come with a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. This benefit means you may be eligible for a full refund if you don’t pass the real estate exam on your first try.
| Type of Education | Features | |
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| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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| Continuing Education |
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Best for continuing education: The CE Shop
My expert opinion on The CE Shop
The CE Shop makes my best real estate schools in Texas list by providing top-notch education options at every stage of your career. The school specializes in continuing education, evident in its wide range of CE course selections. For the best value, consider the Career Accelerator. Besides business building courses and a pass guarantee, you’ll also get the 98-hour required license renewal package.
💡Room for improvement: While The CE Shop has continuously improved the quality of its courses and learning platform, I want to see more interactive features in its course packages. A series of live webinars and Q&A sessions with the company’s best instructors would truly entice prospective agents.
The CE Shop cost
In Texas, The CE Shop offers both individual and packaged self-paced courses. All prelicensing bundles include extra features like e-books, a real estate glossary, and a study schedule.
Best for mobile: AceableAgent
My expert opinion on AceableAgent
As the only provider on my top real estate schools in Texas list with a mobile app, AceableAgent makes it easy for students to digest its courses on the go. Its courses include videos, chapter quizzes, and Quizlet flashcards, all accessible on your phone. Check out our AceableAgent review for more information.
💡Room for improvement: Aceable Agent should expand its real estate courses to more states. This way, prospective agents in the country will also have the chance to experience the school’s awesome mobile learning platform.
AceableAgent cost
AceableAgent’s prelicensing course packages include a pass guarantee and many practice questions that will help you ace the real estate exam.
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Best for straightforward courses: RealEstateU
My expert opinion on RealEstateU
Despite being the most affordable school on my list, RealEstateU doesn’t skimp on key features. Its real estate online classes in Texas include slides with audio lectures, infographics, and chapter quizzes. If you’re looking for a straightforward course, can study independently, and are looking for a good deal, RealEstateU is an excellent Texas real estate school option.
💡Room for improvement: RealEstateU should start offering post-licensing and continuing education courses in Texas. It would surely be a great budget option for licensed real estate agents.
RealEstateU cost
In Texas, RealEstateU offers simple and affordable prelicensing and exam prep course packages for prospective agents.
| Type of Education | Features | |
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| Prelicensing |
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| Exam Prep |
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How we selected the best online real estate schools in Texas
In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involves evaluating each Texas online real estate school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of Texas real estate online courses and schools to determine the best for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry.
Our detailed criteria included:
- Course Features 25%
- This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
- Value 20%
- Pricing and availability of coursework is an important factor to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
- Learning Format & Accessibility 20%
- Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, live stream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users.
- Expert Score 15%
- The Close closely reviews each course for stand-out features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective.
- Help & Support 10%
- If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and ticket system is necessary.
- Reputation 10%
- This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing the customer reviews and popularity of each provider.
Helpful Texas licensing info
Texas Real Estate Governing Body:
Texas Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
180 hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
90 hours within 2 years of becoming licensed
Continuing Education Requirements:
18 hours every 2 years
- Prelicensing: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas
- Continuing education: 5 Best Real Estate Continuing Education Providers
- Exam prep: How to Pass the Real Estate Exam: Top 13 Tips for Success and Ace Your Exam with Our Free Real Estate Practice Exam
- Upgrading your license: How to Get a Real Estate Broker License in Texas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is becoming a Realtor worth it in Texas?
Absolutely! With effort, determination, and commitment, becoming a realtor is one of the most rewarding careers in the Lone Star State.
What are the six Texas real estate courses?
The state requires 180 hours of coursework before sitting for the real estate exam. Courses are broken into six sections of 30 hours each:
- Principles of real estate part one
- Principles of real estate part two
- Law of agency
- Law of contracts
- Promulgated contract forms
- Real estate finance
How fast can you complete real estate school in Texas?
If you can devote at least 40 hours per week to studying, you can complete your prelicensing course in as fast as five weeks.
Is the Texas real estate exam difficult?
Of course, exams are always challenging. According to the Texas Real Estate Commission1, only 57% passed the real estate exam over the past year — which says a lot about whether the exam was difficult. That’s what exam prep materials are for, to help you feel more confident!
What if I have a real estate license in another state?
Texas doesn’t have reciprocity agreements with other states. Even if you have a license in another state, you must complete all Texas state requirements to become licensed. For more information, read our state-by-state license reciprocity guide.
How much do real estate agents make in Texas?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to ZipRecruiter2, an average real estate agent in Texas makes $85,793 annually.
Where do realtors make the most money in Texas?
According to Indeed3, real estate agents in Texas earn the most in McKinney ($107,331), followed by Fort Worth ($98,446), and then Austin ($97,480). Remember, this is a commission-based career. Your earnings will depend on your effort, commitment, and skills.
What’s the average home price in Texas?
Texas home values are down 0.2% from last year, settling at $299,787, according to Zillow4. Dallas’ values are slightly higher, at $306,959, while Houston’s are lower, at $265,434.
Your take
I hope I’ve helped you select the best real estate school in Texas for your learning style and budget. At The Close, we’re committed to sharing strategies for every phase of your real estate journey. Have thoughts or questions? Leave us a comment below!
References:
1 Texas Real Estate Commission
3 Indeed
4 Zillow
