Best colleges for Real Estate
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Real Estate by graduate earnings are New York University ($74,912), University of Wisconsin-Madison ($73,239) and Ohio State University ($72,769), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- New York University (New York, NY): $74,912, 327 graduates a year
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI): $73,239, 211 graduates a year
- Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): $72,769, 28 graduates a year
- Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX): $68,246, 148 graduates a year
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA): $68,078, 108 graduates a year
Compare 212 U.S. colleges offering Real Estate by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 35 states.
Real Estate programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,515 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.15 and the Real Estate Brokers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Real Estate programs
The Real Estate program focuses on the principles and practices of real estate economics, preparing students for a dynamic career in the real estate industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in understanding market trends, property management, and the financial aspects of real estate transactions.
Students will develop essential skills in speaking, critical thinking, and mathematics, along with knowledge of sales and marketing, law, and economics. Coursework typically covers property sales, negotiation techniques, and real estate management.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,912 | 327 | 88% | $29,023 | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,239 | 211 | 90% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,769 | 28 | 88% | — | $19,000 |
| 4 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,246 | 148 | 86% | $25,823 | $24,282 |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,078 | 108 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $59,396 | 26 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 7 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,655 | 151 | 90% | — | $24,027 |
| 8 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,257 | 101 | 86% | — | $19,500 |
| 9 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,073 | 76 | 84% | $26,035 | $21,000 |
| 10 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,965 | 50 | 79% | — | $22,500 |
| 11 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,283 | 39 | 72% | — | $23,000 |
| 12 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,681 | 24 | 63% | — | — |
| 13 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,124 | 30 | 61% | — | $15,251 |
| 14 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,015 | 33 | 53% | — | $29,789 |
| 15 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,920 | 50 | 72% | — | $15,500 |
| 16 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,965 | 56 | 53% | — | $21,485 |
| 17 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,218 | 41 | 78% | — | $21,032 |
| 18 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $75,702 | 4 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,575 | 12 | 62% | — | — |
| 20 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,246 | 14 | 83% | $25,376 | $19,500 |
| 21 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $56,866 | 12 | 68% | — | $23,125 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $54,061 | 13 | 55% | — | $21,220 |
| 23 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,515 | 8 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 24 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $49,261 | 7 | 11% | $26,445 | $37,312 |
| 25 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,836 | 8 | 75% | — | $23,811 |
Top 8 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Certificate | $70,544 | 119 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH Public · Certificate | $34,934 | 232 | 41% | — | $13,718 |
| 3 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · Certificate | $34,398 | 191 | 32% | — | $17,063 |
| 4 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Certificate | $32,983 | 51 | 41% | — | $17,349 |
| 5 | Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · Certificate | $28,434 | 152 | 53% | — | $12,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Certificate Online Small program | $70,544 | 9 | 34% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Associate degree Online | $43,251 | 85 | 57% | $10,199 | $23,765 |
| 8 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Certificate | $36,939 | 101 | 20% | — | $9,500 |
Specializations within Real Estate
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.15 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 35 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-9021, Real Estate Brokers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Real Estate program can pursue various careers in the field, with an expected job growth rate of 3.3% and approximately 9,700 annual openings. The median wage for real estate professionals is $72,280, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Real Estate
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.15.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.15 (Real Estate) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9141 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers |
| 13-2022 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property |
| 13-2023 | Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate |
| 41-9021 | Real Estate Brokersprimary |
| 41-9022 | Real Estate Sales Agents |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Real Estate programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Real Estate program?+
The program focuses on real estate economics, market trends, and property management.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in various real estate roles, including sales, property management, and negotiations.
What is the job outlook for real estate professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.3% and around 9,700 annual openings.
How much do Real Estate graduates earn?+
Real Estate graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,515, College Scorecard (2019); the Real Estate Brokers occupation pays about $83,950 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Real Estate?+
Real Estate maps to CIP 52.15 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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