Best degree programs for Real Estate Brokers, ranked by enrollment
2 college programs and 229 schools train Real Estate Brokers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $73,220 median wage, 46,100 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
2 college programs at 229 schools train real estate brokers, graduating 8,632 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Real Estate. The job pays a median of $73,220 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About real estate brokers
Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
2 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estatemain feeder CIP 52.1501 | 8,030 | 93.0% | 212 | $53,788 | $20,765 |
| 2 | Real Estate Developmentmain feeder CIP 04.1001 | 602 | 7.0% | 21 | $49,353 | $17,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 327 | Real Estate | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 2 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 321 | Real Estate | 30% | — | — |
| 3 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH Public · 2 feeder programs | 233 | Real Estate | 41% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 211 | Real Estate | 90% | — | 45% |
| 5 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 197 | Real Estate | 95% | $22,242 | 13% |
| 6 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 191 | Real Estate | 32% | — | — |
| 7 | West Los Angeles College Culver City, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 161 | Real Estate | 28% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 154 | Real Estate Development | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 9 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 152 | Real Estate | 53% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 151 | Real Estate | 90% | — | 38% |
| 11 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 150 | Real Estate | 32% | — | — |
| 12 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 148 | Real Estate | 86% | $25,823 | 44% |
| 13 | Poway Adult School Poway, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 137 | Real Estate | — | — | — |
| 14 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 133 | Real Estate Development | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 15 | Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA Public · 1 feeder programs | 127 | Real Estate | 24% | — | — |
| 16 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 123 | Real Estate | 25% | — | — |
| 17 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 119 | Real Estate | 86% | — | 61% |
| 18 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 118 | Real Estate | 74% | — | 55% |
| 19 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 108 | Real Estate | 86% | — | 55% |
| 20 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 105 | Real Estate | 45% | — | — |
| 21 | Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 102 | Real Estate | 31% | — | — |
| 22 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 101 | Real Estate | 20% | — | — |
| 23 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 101 | Real Estate | 86% | — | 24% |
| 24 | Glendale Community College Glendale, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 91 | Real Estate | 37% | — | — |
| 25 | Houston City College Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 90 | Real Estate | 17% | — | — |
| 26 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 89 | Real Estate | 28% | — | — |
| 27 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 88 | Real Estate | 27% | — | — |
| 28 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 86 | Real Estate | 84% | — | 57% |
| 29 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 85 | Real Estate | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 30 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 76 | Real Estate | 94% | $11,888 | 6% |
| 31 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 76 | Real Estate | 84% | $26,035 | 52% |
| 32 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 73 | Real Estate | 31% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Denver Denver, CO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 73 | Real Estate | 76% | $29,726 | 78% |
| 34 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NV Public · 1 feeder programs | 70 | Real Estate | 32% | — | — |
| 35 | San Antonio College San Antonio, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Real Estate | 26% | — | — |
| 36 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Real Estate Development | 86% | — | 27% |
| 37 | Citrus College Glendora, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Real Estate | 41% | — | — |
| 38 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Real Estate | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 39 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Real Estate | 84% | $33,246 | 63% |
| 40 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 64 | Real Estate | 35% | — | — |
| 41 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 62 | Real Estate | 42% | — | — |
| 42 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 61 | Real Estate | 48% | — | — |
| 43 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 60 | Real Estate | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 58 | Real Estate | 36% | — | — |
| 45 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 58 | Real Estate | 16% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 57 | Real Estate | 83% | — | 60% |
| 47 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 56 | Real Estate | 53% | — | 87% |
| 48 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 55 | Real Estate | 30% | — | — |
| 49 | Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 54 | Real Estate | 20% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 54 | Real Estate | 75% | — | 85% |
What real estate brokers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $80,450 | 8,430 | 1.56× | 70 | 2,303 |
| Texas | $63,390 | 2,040 | 0.49× | 24 | 1,609 |
| Ohio | $64,510 | — | — | 17 | 733 |
| Florida | $66,010 | 3,640 | 1.23× | 8 | 442 |
| Wisconsin | — | 440 | 0.50× | 7 | 405 |
| Utahmoderate | $92,830 | — | — | 4 | 226 |
| Pennsylvania | — | 1,200 | 0.67× | 9 | 208 |
| Colorado | $79,970 | 3,280 | 3.84× | 7 | 189 |
| Virginia | $77,270 | 1,500 | 1.23× | 5 | 155 |
| Arizona | $74,260 | 3,790 | 3.95× | 8 | 151 |
| South Carolinamoderate | — | 760 | 1.11× | 3 | 117 |
| Marylandlimited | $81,550 | 430 | 0.53× | 2 | 105 |
| West Virginialimited | $58,960 | 140 | 0.70× | 1 | 85 |
| Oregonlimited | $63,070 | 1,670 | 2.86× | 1 | 51 |
| Mississippilimited | $41,690 | 60 | 0.19× | 2 | 45 |
| Alabamamoderate | $82,630 | 460 | 0.73× | 3 | 38 |
| Illinoismoderate | $62,540 | 990 | 0.55× | 4 | 34 |
| Michigan | $82,510 | 1,150 | 0.88× | 5 | 26 |
| Minnesotalimited | $39,850 | — | — | 2 | 26 |
| Missourilimited | $62,280 | 1,980 | 2.28× | 2 | 26 |
| Iowalimited | $50,140 | — | — | 2 | 20 |
| Washingtonlimited | $82,790 | — | — | 1 | 17 |
| Indianalimited | $75,000 | 740 | 0.77× | 2 | 15 |
| Kentuckylimited | — | 150 | 0.25× | 2 | 10 |
| North Carolinalimited | $52,830 | 1,560 | 1.07× | 1 | 10 |
| Connecticutlimited | $105,800 | — | — | 1 | 8 |
| Kansaslimited | $69,990 | 290 | 0.69× | 2 | 5 |
| New Jerseylimited | $111,390 | 1,290 | 1.01× | 1 | 2 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
- Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
- Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
- Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
Skills
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Writing3.4
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics2.9
Knowledge areas
- Sales and Marketing4.5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3
- English Language4.1
- Law and Government4.0
- Administration and Management3.9
- Economics and Accounting3.5
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Near Vision3.6
- Deductive Reasoning3.6
- Speech Clarity3.6
Core activities
- Getting Information4.4
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.3
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
- Working with Computers3.9
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.8
- Performing Administrative Activities3.8
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Real Estate Broker
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience needed
- Less than 5 years
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Real Estate Brokers2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 04.1001Real Estate Development
- 52.1501Real Estate
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Real Estate Broker?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Real Estate, which awarded 8,030 degrees in 2024-25, 93.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Real Estate Broker?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this occupation. The largest are Real Estate, Real Estate Development. Together they graduate about 8,632 people a year.
How much do real estate brokers earn?+
The median is $73,220 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $37,110 at the 10th percentile to $143,300 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for real estate brokers growing?+
BLS projects a +3.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 9,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
229 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do real estate brokers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Broker, Realtor, Managing Broker, Real Estate Broker among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 41-9021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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