Best institutions to study Real Estate
Compare 212 U.S. colleges offering Real Estate by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 35 states.
Real Estate programs report a median of $53,515 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 34 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,702 | 4 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 2 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,912 | 327 | 88% | $29,023 | $20,500 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,239 | 211 | 90% | — | $20,500 |
| 4 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,769 | 28 | 88% | — | $19,000 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Certificate degree | $70,544 | 119 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Certificate degree | $70,544 | 9 | 34% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,246 | 148 | 86% | $25,823 | $24,282 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,078 | 108 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $59,396 | 26 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 10 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,575 | 12 | 62% | — | — |
| 11 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,246 | 14 | 83% | $25,376 | $19,500 |
| 12 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,866 | 12 | 68% | — | $23,125 |
| 13 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,655 | 151 | 90% | — | $24,027 |
| 14 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,257 | 101 | 86% | — | $19,500 |
| 15 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,073 | 76 | 84% | $26,035 | $21,000 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,061 | 13 | 55% | — | $21,220 |
| 17 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,515 | 8 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 18 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,965 | 50 | 79% | — | $22,500 |
| 19 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,283 | 39 | 72% | — | $23,000 |
| 20 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,261 | 7 | 11% | $26,445 | $37,312 |
| 21 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,836 | 8 | 75% | — | $23,811 |
| 22 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,681 | 24 | 63% | — | — |
| 23 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,124 | 30 | 61% | — | $15,251 |
| 24 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,015 | 33 | 53% | — | $29,789 |
| 25 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Associate degree | $43,251 | 85 | 57% | $10,199 | $23,765 |
| 26 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,920 | 50 | 72% | — | $15,500 |
| 27 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,965 | 56 | 53% | — | $21,485 |
| 28 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,218 | 41 | 78% | — | $21,032 |
| 29 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Certificate degree | $36,939 | 101 | 20% | — | $9,500 |
| 30 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,879 | 3 | 57% | — | — |
| 31 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH Public · Certificate degree | $34,934 | 232 | 41% | — | $13,718 |
| 32 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · Certificate degree | $34,398 | 191 | 32% | — | $17,063 |
| 33 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Certificate degree | $32,983 | 51 | 41% | — | $17,349 |
| 34 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · Certificate degree | $28,434 | 152 | 53% | — | $12,000 |
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.
Concentrations within Real Estate
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Real EstateCIP 52.1501
A program that prepares individuals to develop, buy, sell, appraise, and manage real estate
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 of $53,515 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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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