Online real estate classes in Ohio are the first step to becoming a real estate agent in the Buckeye State. You’re only one 120-hour prelicensing course away from selling cozy homes in Cleveland or modern condos in Cincinnati.
And we’ve made choosing real estate classes in Ohio a breeze. We’ve done our research to help you find the right program for your schedule and your budget. We examined every important feature, including usability, convenience, course design, added perks, and more. Let’s dive in and take a look!
6 Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for 2023
| Our Top 5 Picks | Pricing From | Promo Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Hondros College | $1,799 | |
| Best for Online: The CE Shop | $1499 | TheClose35 - Save 35% |
| Best for Getting Assc. Degree: Sinclair College | $1,407 | |
| Best Fast-track School: Marion Technical College | $2,070 | |
| Best for Weekend Warriors: Columbus State Community College | $1,730 | |
| Best for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate | $115 (exam prep only) |
(Ohio prelicensing package prices as of June 2023)
If you want to know about the types of real estate classes you need to take throughout your real estate career in Ohio, you can jump into the helpful info section of this article. But if you’re ready to find your perfect school, let’s dig into our top picks for best real estate classes in Ohio.
Best Overall Real Estate Classes in Ohio: Hondros College
Hondros College offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
Hondros College is one of the best places to complete self-paced, online real estate classes in Ohio, though they offer live online and in-person real estate classes too. We chose Hondros College as our top pick because they provide everything you need to become a licensed real estate agent in Ohio in one package.
You’ll receive 120 hours of quality instruction, exam prep materials, post-licensing courses, continuing education classes, and networking opportunities with local brokerages. They’re the complete one-stop shop for real estate classes in Ohio, making your journey to becoming a Realtor a piece of cake.
Hondros College Pricing
Here are some more details about your options. Hondros College offers three packages, and each comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Career Start Package ($1,799): This first-tier package includes your prelicensing course, four textbooks, a test cram course, live instructor support, fingerprinting fee for your background check, national exam review, and best of all, an access to career expos where you can connect with hiring brokerages.
- Set for Success Package ($1,999): With this choice, you’ll receive everything in the previous package plus CompuCram exam prep, flashcards, a real estate dictionary, and a math review course.
- Ultimate Real Estate Package ($2,299): With this top-tier package, you’ll get everything in the previous package plus your 20-hour post-licensing course, 30 hours of continuing education (CE) classes, and a professional membership with the Hondros Alumni Association so you can access resources for your entire career.
(Hondros College prelicensing package prices as of June 2023)
BEST FEATURE: Hondros College is the ultimate one-stop shop. Whether it’s the post-licensing and the CE coursework included in the ultimate package, or the fingerprint background checks included at every level, Hondros makes applying for your Ohio real estate license that much easier.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: These certainly aren’t the cheapest real estate classes on our list. However, the school often runs sales on its packages. For a slightly more economical option, check out The CE Shop (below).
BOTTOM LINE: Hondros College is a top provider of online real estate classes in Ohio, and they offer a great value for your investment.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Online: The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
Across the country, The CE Shop has considerable experience providing quality online education. Due to the special requirements in Ohio, they’ve teamed up with Davis College to offer prelicensing courses. Whether you sign up for classes through The CE Shop or Davis College, you’ll receive the same program.
The CE Shop has expanded its course offerings to keep pace with competitors. Not only do they have a lot of experience in online education, but their online platform is also sleek, with easy-to-use features that make navigating your online course a breeze.
The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers four packages for those enrolling in online real estate classes in Ohio:
- Basic Package ($1,499): Far from basic, this package includes your prelicensing course, digital flashcards, and a study schedule to prepare you for the Ohio real estate exam. Printed resources also provide interview tips and advice on finding your real estate niche.
- Standard Package ($1,569): You’ll enjoy everything in the Basic Package plus their Exam Prep Edge covering both state and national real estate knowledge, and a pass guarantee. This means The CE Shop will refund your exam fee if you don’t pass the Ohio real estate license test.
- Value Package ($1,605): On top of everything in the Standard Package, you’ll receive business-building courses designed for new real estate agents in Ohio.
- Premium Package ($1,795): This top-tier package bundles all the above features with your 20-hour post-licensing course to complete your first license renewal.
(The CE Shop prelicensing package prices as of June 2023)
Readers of The Close can save 35% on any prelicensing real estate classes in Ohio offered by The CE Shop Use promo code TheClose35 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: We definitely appreciate that The CE Shop offers packages at more affordable prices, and they also tend to offer sales on their packages year-round.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: While The CE Shop will allow you to check off your prelicensing course requirements, the school won’t help you get a job. The college doesn’t offer any networking opportunities for Ohio real estate students. By contrast, Hondros College has campuses in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other Ohio locations, as well as job placement services.
BOTTOM LINE: The CE Shop’s solid reputation for online learning paired with career resources makes them an excellent choice for self-paced courses.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Earning College Credit: Sinclair College
Sinclair College offers:
- Prelicensing
- Associate degree in real estate
When you enroll in Sinclair College, you can take your Ohio real estate prelicensing classes while earning college credit (or an associate degree). This allows you to finance the rest of your college education while working the flexible schedule of an Ohio real estate agent!
Sinclair College provides four options for completing your Ohio real estate prelicensing courses. The first three options are short-term technical certificate programs called Ohio Real Estate Sales Associate and Real Estate Sales Professional. With these, you’ll earn college credit hours while fulfilling Ohio’s real estate prelicensing class requirements.
Another option is Sinclair College’s Eagle Program, which leads you to an associate degree in Real Estate within 15 months. Along the way, you’ll also learn what you need to know to sit for the Ohio real estate exam.
Sinclair College Pricing
- Ohio Real Estate Sales Associate Short-Term Technical Certificate – Online ($1,407): Complete 120 hours of required prelicensing classes while also earning nine hours of academic credit. Pricing is for Montgomery County residents and includes tuition, fees, and textbooks. For Ohio residents outside Montgomery County, the total comes to $1,832.
- Ohio Real Estate Sales Associate Short-Term Technical Certificate – In Person ($1,340): This includes everything in the above package, but the school offers a discount when you take your classes on campus.
- Ohio Real Estate Sales Professional Short-Term Technical Certificate ($136.03 per hour of academic credit): Complete 120 hours of required prelicensing classes while also earning 18 hours of academic credit. Programming includes a computer class and communication courses to learn how to present yourself professionally.
- Associate of Applied Science in Real Estate ($136.03 per hour of academic credit): An associate degree program encompassing more than 60 academic credit hours of study, including the knowledge you’ll need to pass the Ohio real estate salesperson exam.
(Sinclair College prelicensing package prices as of June 2023 for residents of Montgomery County)
BEST FEATURE: Sinclair College allows you to get your real estate license while you complete your college degree. While real estate agents in Ohio don’t necessarily need a college degree, this unique option isn’t available through any other Ohio real estate school on our list.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Sinclair College doesn’t offer exam prep sessions for the Ohio real estate exam or employment networking opportunities. If you’re looking for a school that targets your real estate career, consider our top pick, Hondros College.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a creative way to fund your college education, become a real estate agent in Ohio by earning your associate’s degree in real estate from Sinclair College.
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Best Fast-track Real Estate School in Ohio: Marion Technical College
Marion Technical College offers:
- Prelicensing
- Associate degree in real estate
If you want to finish your prelicensing coursework in just one semester while earning college credits, Marion Technical College’s real estate program boasts “fewer classes, faster credits.” Aside from its certificate program, the company also offers an associate degree that meets all the educational requirements for a real estate license. All their classes are online for both the certificate program and associate degree, so there’s no need to visit the campus.
The four real estate courses are offered in eight-week sessions beginning January, March, August, and October. For example, a student may take two courses from August to October, then the other two courses from October to December. That means you can start in any of those four months.
Marion Technical College Pricing
Unlike the other schools on our list, Marion Technical College doesn’t have separate pricing tiers.
- Real Estate Course ($2,070): This price covers your prelicensing tuition at $200 per credit hour ($200 x 10 credit hours) plus $70 for miscellaneous fees. Books come at an additional cost of approximately $310.
(Marion Technical College prelicensing price as of June 2023)
BEST FEATURE: We love how students can take fewer classes at a time while earning the credits faster as they’re completing the program. The two eight-week sessions are definitely better than the traditional 16-week semester.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: It would be ideal if Marion Technical College could include the books and other bonus materials in the tuition.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking to take your prelicensing course in an effective timeline without too much pressure, consider Marion Technical College.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Weekend Warriors: Columbus State Community College
Columbus State Community College offers:
- Prelicensing
- Associate degree in real estate
- Broker prelicensing
Previously Columbus Technical Institute, Columbus State Community College (CSSC) is a public college in Columbus, Ohio. The company offers their Ohio Board of Realtors-approved real estate certificate program at its Columbus campus and at the Westerville regional learning site.
Students enrolling in the real estate prelicensuring certificate program can follow CSSC’s suggested schedule: real estate principles and practices and finance for the first semester, followed by real estate law and appraisal in the second semester. However, you can also take all four classes in one semester.
Columbus State Community College Pricing
- Real Estate Pre-Licensure Certificate ($173 per credit hour): Since the college charges by credit hour, expect to pay at least $1,730 for your 10 credit hours. You may check CSCC’s website for schedule availability of their live online and in-person classes, or you may also complete the whole course through asynchronous online learning.
(Columbus State Community College prelicensing price for Ohio residents as of June 2023)
BEST FEATURE: We love that students can take their courses during the evenings and weekends. But of course, it depends on the available schedule for in-person and live online classes. Also, starting this autumn, Columbus State Community College will start offering a three-hour CE class. We love to see that they’re expanding their real estate program!
ROOM TO IMPROVE: We’d like to see Columbus State Community College offer more prelicensing course features in the future. Free practice exams and a professional development course would mean so much for aspiring real estate agents.
BOTTOM LINE: If you have a tight schedule during the week or a full-time job and would like to take your real estate classes during the weekends, consider Columbus State Community College.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Exam Prep Add-on: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Exam prep
Even though you can’t take your online real estate classes in Ohio through Colibri Real Estate, you can use their top-notch exam prep materials to pass the Ohio licensing exam.
Colibri Real Estate’s exam prep is all about individualizing your experience so you don’t waste any time. They provide custom exams that are tailored to the areas in which you need to review. On top of it all, they’re so confident about their exam prep package that, if you don’t pass your license exam on the first try, they’ll give you your money back.
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Colibri Real Estate Exam Prep Pricing
- Exam Prep ($115): This exam prep package includes digital flashcards, simulated exams, audio review guides, and a pass guarantee.
- Exam Prep Live ($219): This includes everything from the previous package, the Exam Crammer webinar series, Q&A with a live instructor, and Colibri’s animated video library.
(Colibri Real Estate Exam Prep package prices as of June 2023)
BEST FEATURE: It’s easy to offer hundreds of practice questions, which is why we appreciate Colibri Real Estate’s guarantee. How prepared you are for your license exam normally relies on your own motivation and study habits, but Colibri Real Estate is so confident their exam prep design is effective, they guarantee you’ll pass your license exam the first time.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: We’d like to see more exam prep package options. Some real estate agents moving in from out of state may only need to review the state portion of the license exam, so a state exam-focused package would be ideal.
BOTTOM LINE: Taking tests can feel intimidating, but thorough preparation takes the anxiety out of the Ohio real estate licensing exam. That’s why we recommend exam prep resources from Colibri Real Estate.
How We Selected the Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio
Choosing the right real estate classes in Ohio is a difficult process, so we’ve come up with a methodology to help you land on one of the best schools. Here at The Close, we use a weighted rubric to score real estate schools based on course format, pricing, web and mobile interface, usability, online experience, and more. Read more about our methodology here.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio: Helpful Info
Ohio Real Estate Governing Body:
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
Prelicensing Requirements:
120 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
20 Hours (in the First Year)
Continuing Education Requirements:
30 Hours (Every 3 Years)
Each state’s real estate requirements differ, so we’re simplifying what you need to know about real estate classes in Ohio. First, your 120-hour prelicensing course will cover the following topics:
- Real estate principles and practices (40 hours)
- Real estate law (40 hours)
- Real estate appraisal (20 hours)
- Real estate finance (20 hours)
Next, it’s important to understand that real estate classes in Ohio must be completed at an institution of higher education that awards a degree. But we’ve got you covered. The schools on our list that offer prelicensing courses are all approved by the state of Ohio. Let’s take a look at the kinds of programs real estate schools in Ohio offer to prepare you for your entire career.
Prelicensing Classes
Your first step is to complete the required 120 hours of prelicensing coursework from a two or four-year college before sitting for the Ohio real estate licensing exam. You’ll be able to choose between taking your course online, via livestream, or in a classroom.
Many students prefer the flexibility of a self-paced course to accommodate their busy schedules. Others prefer the accountability of a scheduled class. One of the reasons we get excited about Hondros College is because they offer self-paced, livestream, and in-person course options packed with valuable features.
Exam Preparation
You may feel more confident sitting for the Ohio real estate licensing exam if you’ve spent time studying with high-quality exam prep materials. Exam prep tools are designed to give you the targeted practice you need to stop test anxiety in its tracks.
Colibri Real Estate’s add-on exam prep package, for instance, includes progress exams to check your understanding of core concepts, flashcards to help you study, and practice exams so you feel confident on exam day.
Post-licensing Courses
Within the first year of obtaining your Ohio real estate license, you’ll need to complete 20 hours of post-licensing coursework. You can complete your post-licensing education at the same secondary institution where you completed your prelicensing classes or at any Ohio real estate school that offers post-licensing. In our buyer’s guide, we let you know which schools offer these classes and which ones don’t.
Continuing Education
Once you have renewed your real estate license the first time, Ohio requires that you complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every three years. The 30 hours must include nine hours of classes covering ethics, core law (also known as agency), and civil rights. The other 21 hours are electives.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio: FAQs
Have more questions about real estate schools in Ohio? We’ve provided some additional information about online Ohio real estate classes, timelines, costs, and more. If you have a question we didn’t answer, tell us in the comment section below!
How do I get my real estate license in Ohio?
To become a real estate salesperson in Ohio, you need to obtain a background check, take the 120 hours of prelicensing courses, pass the Ohio real estate licensing exam, and then find a sponsoring broker to hire you. Read How to Get an Ohio Real Estate License to learn all the details.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Ohio?
It takes at least three months to get a real estate license in Ohio. Even though some schools (like Sinclair College) claim students can complete the material within eight weeks, the testing and application process will likely tack on an additional few weeks before your Ohio real estate license is finalized.
How hard is it to pass the Ohio real estate exam?
The Ohio salesperson exam consists of 80 questions about national real estate matters and 40 state-specific questions. To pass, you must get at least 70% correct on each section.
How many Realtors are there in Ohio?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 36,816 Realtors in Ohio. This is a very slight increase from the previous month, and about the same number as this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in Ohio?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in Ohio made $78,494, which is 19% below the national average.
What’s the average home price in Ohio?
According to Zillow, home values in Ohio rose almost 5% over the past year, reaching $215,956. In larger cities, the values are slightly higher. In Columbus, the average home value is $244,756 and Cincinnati’s is $236,147.
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Bringing It All Together
It’s a really interesting time to start your exciting new career in Ohio. We hope our guide helped you narrow down your search for the right real estate school. Have additional questions? Leave a comment below!
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