Having the inside scoop on the best online real estate schools is critical for a successful career. Whether you’re looking for a real estate school to help you get your license, manage your continuing education credits, or become a broker, this list will help you select the best school for your needs. I evaluated these online real estate schools based on pricing, course offerings, teaching styles, user experience, and exam success rates and came up with the top six.
- Fortune Academy of Real Estate: Best for learning experience and support
- Colibri Real Estate: Best for comprehensive course offerings
- AceableAgent: Best for interactive learning on-the-go
- Kaplan Real Estate Education: Best for extensive exam prep
- The CE Shop: Best for continuing education
- RealEstateU: Best for budget-friendly courses
Colibri Real Estate has paid for this placement. However, our team of experts approved Colibri Real Estate as an appropriate product and our content remains editorially independent.
Use Our Code “TheClose30” to Get 30% Off on All Colibri Real Estate Prelicensing Courses.
The Close’s Top Picks of Online Real Estate Schools in 2024
| Learning experience and support | ||||
| Comprehensive course offerings | ||||
| Interactive learning on-the-go | ||||
| Extensive exam prep | ||||
| Continuing education | ||||
| Budget-friendly courses | ||||
| *All prices throughout the article are based on the average cost of prelicensing courses in TX, NY, FL, and CA. | ||||
Need a little more information about what it actually takes to get a real estate license? Start with our comprehensive guide on how to get a real estate license.
Fortune Academy of Real Estate: Best for Learning Experience & Support
My Expert Opinion on Fortune Academy of Real Estate
Fortune Academy shines above the others as one of the best online real estate schools because of its learning experience and exceptional personalized support. What really sets Fortune apart is the hands-on guidance you receive. Students benefit from one-on-one coaching, personalized study plans, and live Q&A sessions with experienced instructors. It also provides detailed study guides, video tutorials, free practice exams, and flashcards to reinforce learning.
💡Room for improvement: If there’s one area where I think it could improve, it’s the mobile accessibility of the platform. Including it would make studying on the go more convenient and elevate its comprehensive support.
Fortune Academy of Real Estate Cost
Fortune Academy offers great value with some of the best real estate classes online, combining competitive pricing with tons of support and resources.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Continuing education |
|
|
| Broker prelicensing |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: Close30 – Save 30%
Best for Comprehensive Course Offerings: Colibri Real Estate
My Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate ranks as one of the top online real estate schools for its comprehensive course offerings, and it’s easy to see why. It packs its courses with various tools and support features that cater to every learner. The prelicensing courses include all the state-required education hours supported by instructors, study guides, coaching and how-to videos, flashcards, audio review guides, and live Q&A sessions. Its extensive resources ensure students are thoroughly prepared and supported throughout their learning journey.
💡Room for improvement: One improvement I’d suggest is to adjust the course completion timeline. Currently, students have just six months to finish their courses. Extending this period would provide more flexibility for those juggling busy schedules, making already impressive course offerings even better.
Colibri Real Estate Cost
Colibri Real Estate has various package options in multiple states, so you can pick one that fits your budget perfectly.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Continuing education |
|
|
| Broker prelicensing |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: TheClose30—Save 30%
AceableAgent: Best for Interactive Learning On-the-Go
My Expert Opinion on AceableAgent
AceableAgent stands out as one of the best online real estate schools for providing education on-the-go, particularly for those who appreciate a modern, tech-savvy learning experience. Its mobile-first platform is user-friendly, allowing students to study anytime, anywhere. The interactive and engaging content—including videos, quizzes, and real-world scenarios—makes the learning process not only effective but also enjoyable.
💡Room for improvement: One area I think it could improve upon is expanding its customer support hours. Longer support hours would make it easier for students to get help when needed, boosting the overall learning experience.
AceableAgent Cost
AceableAgent offers affordable courses that give you a lot of bang for your buck with their interactive and flexible learning options.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Continuing education |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: No Code Needed—Click our link to save 25%
Kaplan Real Estate Education: Best for Extensive Exam Prep
My Expert Opinion on Kaplan Real Estate Education
Kaplan is hands down the best online real estate license program for its extensive exam prep. It packs its courses with comprehensive study aids, practice exams, and detailed explanations that really help you understand the material. Plus, the quality of the prep materials is top-notch, giving you the confidence and knowledge you need to ace your licensing exams.
💡Room for improvement: If I could improve one thing about Kaplan, it would be to update its technology interface and add more interactive course content. This would make digesting the material more fun and engaging.
Kaplan Real Estate Education Cost
Kaplan’s courses are a bit pricier, but it offers great value with top-notch exam prep materials and comprehensive study aids.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Continuing education |
|
|
| Broker prelicensing |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: KAPRE5—Save 5%
The CE Shop: Best for Continuing Education
My Expert Opinion on The CE Shop
The CE Shop is my go-to for the best online classes for real estate continuing education courses. Its courses are always up-to-date with industry trends and regulations, so you know you’re getting current info. Plus, the online platform is super flexible, letting you learn at your own pace. The interactive content keeps things engaging and easy to grasp.
💡Room for improvement: The CE Shop can improve by adding more live webinars or real-time Q&A sessions. These features would add even more value by letting students interact directly with industry experts and get instant answers to their questions.
The CE Shop Cost
The CE Shop’s courses are really quite affordable, giving you quality courses with the flexibility to learn anywhere.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Continuing education |
|
|
| Broker prelicensing |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: TheClose35—Save 35%
RealEstateU: Best for Budget-friendly Courses
My Expert Opinion on RealEstateU
Education Available
- Prelicensing
- Post-licensing
- Exam Prep
While RealEstateU didn’t make the list of our top five rated online real estate schools, it’s definitely still worth a mention. This school offers budget-friendly courses that provide solid foundational knowledge for aspiring real estate agents. The content is straightforward and easy to follow, perfect for beginners. If you’re looking for an affordable option without compromising on quality, RealEstateU is a great choice to consider.
💡Room for improvement: I think it should add CE courses to the online real estate courses. It would provide value to the existing student base by helping them stay current on industry trends and requirements throughout their career.
RealEstateU Cost
Talk about value! RealEstateU offers some of the most budget-friendly courses in the industry, making quality real estate education accessible to everyone.
| Prelicensing |
|
|
| Post-licensing |
|
|
| Exam prep |
|
Promo Code: TheClose10—Save 10%
How We Selected the Best Online Real Estate Schools
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 school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of the best real estate schools online 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 the following:
- 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 are important factors 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a real estate school if I already have a license from another state?
Good news! If you’re currently licensed in a state other than the one you want to do business in, you may be able to have your prelicensing education requirements waived thanks to license reciprocity agreements between states. Each state’s license reciprocity and portability rules are unique, so learn more about your state in our reciprocity guide here.
Which is better: online or in-person real estate classes?
Choosing the right learning method really depends on what works best for you. If you thrive on face-to-face interaction and need to get away from home distractions, in-person classes at local real estate schools could be the way to go. But if you’re open to online learning or want to give it a shot, good online real estate schools are super convenient. They offer flexible, self-paced courses and have tons of online resources to answer your questions on the spot. And if you get stuck, most big online schools provide instructor support via email, live chat, or even video chat.
I’ve never attended an online class before. Is it hard?
Online learning might seem intimidating at first, but it’s really not. If you’ve ever used YouTube to fix something, you’ve already experienced it. The live stream classes from our top five online real estate schools are interactive and engaging. Self-paced video and audio courses offer flexibility but require you to manage your own time. No matter which method you choose, online real estate education will need your time and attention, but if you can learn from a YouTube video, you’ll do great.
Bringing It All Together
Choosing a real estate school is just the beginning of your journey to a new career. We fully support all the schools on our list and hope we’ve helped you find the best online real estate school that fits your state’s requirements, budget, and learning style.
Have you taken courses with these or other schools and have tips for future students? Share your experiences and advice in the comments below!
