To become a real estate agent in New Jersey, you’ll need to complete a 75-hour prelicensing course to meet the state’s requirements for sitting the state licensure exam. If you’re ready to kick-start a new career this year, check out the best real estate schools in NJ that will set you up for success.
With more than 100 licensed schools listed on the New Jersey Real Estate Commission’s website, you might be wondering which one to choose. We’ve narrowed it down to the five best real estate schools in NJ based on pricing, course offerings, and more to help you pinpoint the school that’s right for you.
5 Best New Jersey Real Estate Schools
| Our Top Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Center for Real Estate Education | ||
| Best for Online: Colibri Real Estate | ||
| Best Instructor Support: Garden State Real Estate Academy | ||
| Best on a Budget: Alliance School of Real Estate | ||
| Best for Exam Prep: New Jersey Real Estate Institute |
(New Jersey prelicensing package prices as of July 2023)
New Jersey Real Estate Governing Body:
New Jersey Real Estate Commission (REC)
Prelicensing Requirements:
75 Hours
Continuing Education Requirements:
12 Hours Within Two Years
If you want to know the types of real estate classes you’ll need to take throughout your real estate career in New Jersey, you may want to skip to the helpful info section of this article. But if you’re ready to enroll, let’s take a closer look at our top picks and learn why they made our list of favorites.
Best Overall Real Estate School in NJ: Center for Real Estate Education
Center for Real Estate Education offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
The Center for Real Estate Education is one of the largest real estate schools in New Jersey. Aside from prelicensing and continuing education courses, the company offers seminars and coaching as well. With so many instructors, classes are always in session, which makes finding a time slot easy. Their flexible scheduling means that you have more than just weekday and evening options.
Also, if you’re looking to get your license in New York or Pennsylvania, the Center for Real Estate Education has you covered. You can choose their test prep packages that will prepare you for the NY and PA real estate exam if you’re already licensed in NJ.
Center for Real Estate Education Pricing
The Center for Real Estate Education offers several packages to complete your prelicensing course.
- Essentials Package ($399): This includes the 75-hour prelicensing course via livestream or in-person, with exam prep classes, instructor access, math study guide, and daily practice test questions.
- Power Study Package ($499): This includes everything in the Essentials Package, additional practice exams, interactive study groups, and access to a community Facebook group.
- Ultimate Career Package: ($699): For an additional $200, this package includes everything in the Power Study Package plus career training, and a property management certificate course.
(Center for Real Estate Education prelicensing package prices as of July 2023)
BEST FEATURES: You can’t beat the flexible schedule this school offers. You can take weekday and evening livestream classes or in-person classes on Saturdays and Sundays. And you can mix and match classes to fit your schedule, so you can dip into all of the different class times however you like.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: While the company offers the most flexibility between in-person and livestream class options, they could sweeten the deal by including the textbook and course recap study videos in the price. For now, you’ll have to purchase the textbook and videos as add-ons, priced at $75 each.
BOTTOM LINE: You’ll surely find a course package from The Center for Real Estate Education to your liking. All of their courses’ bonus features and professional development courses will set you up for success.
Best Online Real Estate School in NJ: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
For more than two decades, Colibri Real Estate has been preparing prospective real estate agents for their license exams and careers.
Operating in all 50 states, Colibri offers comprehensive online real estate education in convenient, self-paced, and easy-to-use livestream and online formats to fit your schedule. You’ll find study materials, support options, and exam prep, all in one place.
Colibri Real Estate Pricing
In New Jersey, Colibri Real Estate currently only offers one course package.
- Livestream Learning ($499): This includes a set schedule of online classes with a live instructor that you’ll attend from the comfort of home. Choose between weekdays, weekends, full days, evenings, and part-time classes. Course materials include e-books, a real estate dictionary, exam prep, interactive learning videos, instructor and peer engagement, and one year of professional development support.
(Colibri Real Estate New Jersey prelicensing package price as of July 2023)
Readers of The Close can save 30% on any Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course in New Jersey. Use promo code TheClose30 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: We have to call out Colibri Real Estate’s abundant package features. The 40 hours of live Q&A support available go above and beyond the email support provided by most other online-only schools.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: We’d love it if Colibri could offer more package options to allow students to pick and choose the features that are most important to them. However, since exam prep usually costs extra, including it in their prelicensing package adds significant value.
BOTTOM LINE: Colibri Real Estate’s prelicensing course is one of the most comprehensive packages on the market. If you’re looking for a way to get through your online course materials easily, you’ll likely appreciate Colibri’s web interface.
Best Real Estate School in NJ for Instructor Support: Garden State Real Estate Academy
Garden State Real Estate Academy offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Broker prelicensing
Garden State Real Estate (GSRE) Academy is one of the best options for instructor support. If you’re most worried about the challenging course material, GSRE Academy focuses on making sure you feel confident about the material during class time. With lots of great reviews about their instructors, it’s clear GSRE Academy has been satisfying candidates since 2005.
Garden State Real Estate Academy Pricing
Though they both cost the same, Garden State Real Estate Academy offers two prelicensing options in New Jersey.
- Livestream Package ($389): Choose from daytime or evening classes held over Zoom, including a textbook and instructor support.
- In-person Class Package ($389): Choose from daytime or evening classes and switch between in-person and online classes for a blended approach to fit your schedule.
(Garden State Real Estate Academy prelicensing package prices as of July 2023)
BEST FEATURES: With a focus on instructor support, extra exam prep, and live Q&A, it’s clear that GSRE Academy is making individualized attention the differentiator here. Aside from being able to choose your preferred schedule, you’ll also be able to pick your preferred instructor from their list.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Because GSRE Academy traditionally teaches in-person, their online interface doesn’t have as many options. Like all real estate schools in New Jersey, they don’t have an at-your-own-pace option.
BOTTOM LINE: When you sign up for your prelicensing course with Garden State Real Estate Academy, you’ll have access to both livestream and in-person classes. Small class sizes mean you’ll get more attention on the tougher course material you may need help with. If you’re looking for a solid understanding of the course content and a dedicated instructor, GSRE Academy is the way to go.
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Best Real Estate School in NJ on a Budget: Alliance School of Real Estate’
Alliance School of Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
The Alliance School of Real Estate has straightforward prelicensing courses offered online via livestream. The school boasts that its instructors all have at least 20 years of real estate experience. What’s more, they offer tips and advice for jump-starting your real estate career after you’ve finished the course.
Alliance School of Real Estate Pricing
The Alliance School of Real Estate currently only offers one package for their prelicensing course.
- Livestream Package ($349): This package offers the 75-hour prelicensing course via Zoom plus practice exams, a textbook, and access to a Facebook support group.
(Alliance School of Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of July 2023)
BEST FEATURES: We love that they offer access to a Facebook support group. Also, Alliance School of Real Estate provides a free retake of the course if you don’t pass.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Without a self-paced online option, you’ll have to work your schedule around the livestream course options. Alliance School of Real Estate also isn’t for you if you prefer in-person classes and don’t want to fuss with online learning.
BOTTOM LINE: Alliance School of Real Estate should be your first choice if you’re not looking for all the bells and whistles. Their prelicensing course is the most affordable package on our list. Their live classes are streamed via Zoom with some extra tools already included.
Best Real Estate School in NJ for Exam Prep: New Jersey Real Estate Institute
New Jersey Real Estate Institute Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
The New Jersey Real Estate Institute (NJREI) offers flexible course options. Instructors are expert real estate salespeople and brokers with decades of experience. The school’s director is also its principal instructor, and he puts the focus on making sure you pass the license exam.
New Jersey Real Estate Institute Pricing
New Jersey Real Estate Institute (NJREI) offers only one prelicensing package.
- Prelicense Course ($445): NJREI’s offering includes the 75-hour course in a small-class, online setting with course materials, a textbook, practice exams, and live instructor Q&A sessions included.
(NJREI prelicensing package prices as of July 2023)
BEST FEATURE: New Jersey Real Estate Institute’s 10-person class size means you get more time with an instructor to ensure you understand the course material. We also like that your materials and exam prep are included. NJ Real Estate Institute also offers flexible schedule options, so you can choose the rate at which you’d like to finish the course.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: New Jersey Real Estate Institute began offering their prelicensing course online beginning in April 2020, so don’t expect a slick user experience. If you’re tech-savvy and expect a seamless user experience when switching between your tablet, phone, and computer, then their simple layout may not impress you.
BOTTOM LINE: New Jersey Real Estate Institute focuses on making sure you pass your real estate license exam the first time.
How We Selected the Best Real Estate Schools in NJ
Our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involved vetting New Jersey schools according to cost, course offerings, mobile and web usability, instructor support, and more. At The Close, we always strive for the highest standards in providing you the best school options for your needs. Read more about our methodology here.
Real Estate Schools in NJ: Helpful Info
To launch your real estate career in New Jersey, you’ll need to complete a 75-hour prelicensing course, but your education doesn’t end there. Your professional development will continue throughout your career. Here are a few of the types of courses offered by New Jersey real estate schools to help you get and stay licensed.
Prelicensing Courses
To apply to sit the license exam with the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, you’ll need to show proof of having completed a 75-hour prelicensing course.
Note: The New Jersey 75-hour prelicensing course is normally in-person only. Due to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, licensed schools in New Jersey are temporarily able to provide prelicensing courses online. Online classes are formatted as scheduled, livestream classes.
Exam Prep
Besides the topics you’ll cover in class, you’ll want to leave your course feeling confident about taking your license exam. Sometimes, it’s not enough to review the course material solo. Our top pick for exam prep is the New Jersey Real Estate Institute, which offers additional study materials so you know what to expect on exam day.
Continuing Education
Once you get your New Jersey real estate license, your first couple of years as a real estate agent can pass by quickly. That’s why you’ll want to pick a real estate school you trust to satisfy your continuing education (CE) requirements. We think it’s important to prepare in advance, so take note of the features that most appeal to you in your prelicensing course provider as you can often also take CE courses through the same school.
In New Jersey, you’ll need to complete 12 hours of CE every two years to maintain your real estate license. We recommend Center for Real Estate Education for continuing education offerings that allow you to finish your coursework quickly and conveniently.
New Jersey Real Estate Schools FAQs
Still have questions? We have answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a real estate agent in New Jersey. If there’s something we haven’t covered, please drop your question in the comment section of this article. We’d be happy to help!
How much does real estate school cost in New Jersey?
The New Jersey real estate schools on our list charge between $400 and $500 for their most basic classes, which will fulfill your prelicensing requirements. You’ll need to take a 75-hour prelicensing course before you can apply for your New Jersey real estate license.
The final cost will depend on the kind of school package you choose. In general, the cost increases with extra features like exam prep, instructor support, or career resources. The most expensive option on our list is $850.
How long does it take to get a New Jersey real estate license?
On average, it takes three to six months to get your New Jersey real estate license. This will vary depending on how long it takes to complete your prelicensing course and prepare for the license exam. You can complete prelicensing courses in as quickly as two weeks if you go full time.
What is the pass rate for the New Jersey real estate license exam?
Sixty-three percent of candidates will pass the license exam on their first try.
How difficult are real estate courses in New Jersey?
You’ll need to learn a variety of legal topics and gain a solid understanding of the principles behind real estate. That being said, you have plenty of options for real estate schools with extra support like instructor Q&A, study groups, and practice exams. In the end, you’ll simply need to commit time to attending your classes and reviewing the material.
How many Realtors are there in New Jersey?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 59,430 Realtors in New Jersey. This is a slight increase from the previous month, and a 2.2% decrease from last year.
How much do real estate agents make in New Jersey?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in New Jersey makes $97,321 per year, which is on par with the national average. Agents with 10 or more years of experience could make about $18,000 more each year.
What’s the average home price in New Jersey?
According to Zillow, home values in New Jersey rose 4.5% over the past year to reach an average of $468,096. But this does vary quite a bit—for example, Short Hills has a much higher average of $1.7 million.
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Bringing It All Together
Now that you’ve learned about our top picks among New Jersey real estate schools, we hope you feel confident in choosing the NJ real estate school that’s right for you, your timeline, lifestyle, and learning style. Have advice, thoughts, or questions? Leave us a comment below!
