Every state requires real estate professionals to complete specific education to start or maintain their license. Therefore, finding a high-quality school approved by your state’s licensing office and providing the support and education you need is vital for starting a successful real estate career. My team and I reviewed dozens of real estate-accredited schools based on specific criteria to determine the five best online schools for real estate learners.
- Best for mobile-friendly courses: Aceable Agent
- Best for ongoing career support: Kaplan
- Best for affordable and customizable continuing education: The CE Shop
- Best for study support and learning tools: Colibri Real Estate
- Best for flexible payment options: VanEducation Center
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Best Online Schools for Real Estate at a Glance
School | Education Provided & Starting Price* | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $116 Post-licensing: $30 CE: $24 |
| ✓ |
 | Prelicensing: $93 Post-licensing: $14 Broker licensing: $93 CE: $15 Exam prep: $69 |
| ✕ |
 | Prelicensing: $139 Post-licensing: $19 Broker licensing: $115 CE: $9 Exam prep: $79 |
| ✓ |
 | Prelicensing: $147 Post-licensing: $19.95 Broker licensing: $199 CE: $19 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✓ |
 | Prelicensing: $100 Post-licensing: $39 Broker licensing: $400 CE: $9 Exam prep: $59 |
| ✕ |
*Prices and formats may vary by state
Which best accredited online real estate school is right for you?
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Aceable Agent: Best for Mobile-friendly Education
Pros
- Offers "Ace or Don't Pay Guarantee"
- Mobile application
- Practice tests, study guides, and flashcards
Cons
- No real estate broker license courses
- Post-licensing courses only offered in Texas
- One-on-one tutoring only available on top tier plan
Our Expert Opinion on Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent is one of the best accredited online schools for real estate because of its user-friendly course packages, accessibility on mobile and desktop, and its unique multimedia learning experience. It offers a well-organized app for Android and iOS, so students can progress on their courses at any time, and the platform syncs on all devices. Plus, I found the self-paced courses highly engaging, with interactive games, infographics, videos, and even the option for one-on-one tutoring. However, the school could improve by offering prelicensing courses for professionals wanting to become a real estate broker.
Screenshot of Aceable Agent mobile app (Source: Aceable Agent)
- Accreditations: Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and the International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC)
- Refund policy: Aceable Agent’s Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee allows you to get a refund or retake a course if you don’t pass after attempting the state test three times.
- Mastery tracking: Students can see their progress and which topic they should focus on.
- Learning materials: Provides free real estate practice tests, exam prep e-books, downloadable learning materials, and state and national question banks.
- Support: Instructor assistance via email is offered on all plans, and upper-level packages include a live Q&A and private tutoring. A student concierge is available seven days a week for mobile app troubleshooting.
Aceable Agent has an excellent customer review rating of 4.9 out of 5, the highest score out of all the best schools for real estate licenses and education. More than 6,800 students gave the school 5 stars, commending its informative course content, easy-to-use platform, and engaging features. One student said the videos were fun to watch and insightful, which helped them become interested in the content. Aside from these, students love the mobile phone experience, which allows them to take their courses anytime and anywhere.
Although there are a small number of dissatisfied users, most noted that the proctor was difficult to understand. Multiple students also reported that the practice test did not contain questions similar to those on the final exam, making them feel unprepared. If you’d prefer to choose online schooling for your real estate license with a robust exam prep course, check out The CE Shop.
Aceable Agent is a real estate-accredited online school offering packages for prelicensing and post-licensing, as well as individual continuing education (CE) in select states. Although it doesn’t provide exam prep options to purchase individually, the upper-level prelicensing packages include study aids and access to a top real estate exam prep course.
Education Type | Nationwide Availability | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | 14 states | $116-$599 |
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Post-licensing | 3 states | $30-$474 |
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Continued Education | 3 states | $24-$29 |
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Exam Prep | N/A | Exam prep is included with the prelicensing package | |
Kaplan: Best for Career Support
Pros
- Practice tests with feedback
- Instructor-led courses
- Offers career support
Cons
- No pass guarantee
- No in-person class options
- Courses are only accessible for six months
Our Expert Opinion on Kaplan
Kaplan is one of the best real estate schools online, with a variety of course format options and courses for every stage of your real estate career. For those who want to become a real estate agent, my team found that it’s the only accredited real estate school to offer prelicensing packages with specific interactive meetings focused on building skills and knowledge for your career. However, I believe Kaplan would improve by providing a mobile app to access course materials on the go.
Kaplan’s real estate career toolbox (Source: Kaplan)
- Accreditations: ARELLO and IDECC
- Refund policy: Refunds are issued within 30 days of enrollment if the course is not completed.
- Course format variety: Livestream, home study, on-demand videos, self-paced, and interactive course formats.
- Career support: Provides direct instructor access, career toolbox, and course demos.
- Professional development: Multiple courses for new real estate agents and brokers.
- Exam prep tools and packages: Offers a live exam prep course or individual tools like real estate terms audio, practice question bank, on-demand video course, math course, and flashcards.
Kaplan’s knowledgeable instructors, valuable career support, interactive coursework, and course options helped it achieve an excellent review rating of 4.7 out of 5. Many students reported passing the real estate exam on the first try and credited their instructors and the interactive course elements for their success. Plus, multiple students mentioned specific instances of customer support solving their problems.
On the other hand, several reviewers complained about the glitchy system and difficulties navigating the technology. Some students wished for more videos and audiobook-style options to make the class more engaging. For those who want an online real estate school with the most user-friendly navigation and a mobile app, I recommend Aceable Agent or Colibri Real Estate.
Kaplan offers a variety of real estate course packages and individual courses for aspiring and current agents and brokers. Students can choose from its extensive learning delivery format, like self-paced online videos and online-only courses.
Education Type | Nationwide Availability | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | 29 states | $93-$799 |
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Post-licensing | 12 states | $14-$249 |
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Broker Prelicensing | 9 states | $93-$349 |
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Continued Education | 29 states | $15-$69 |
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Exam Prep | 29 states | $69-$199 |
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The CE Shop: Best for Affordable & Customizable Continuing Education
Pros
- Interactive courses with progress dashboard
- One year from purchase to finish courses
- Courses accessible on all devices
Cons
- No direct instructor access
- No 1:1 coaching and training
- No physical school to visit for support and in-classroom options
Our Expert Opinion on The CE Shop
The CE Shop is a well-known accredited real estate school that offers engaging self-paced education courses for every stage of your career. It stands out for me and my colleagues as the best school to renew your real estate license, with a wide range of CE courses available individually or in customized packages. It offers mandatory CE course topics in every state, plus more than 25 elective course topics covering industry issues, trends, and important skills for real estate professionals. However, The CE Shop could improve by offering livestream courses that allow students to connect with its instructors in real time.
The CE Shop’s main course dashboard (Source: The CE Shop)
- Accreditation: ARELLO
- Free trial and money-back guarantee: Provides a five-day free trial on some prelicensing courses, unlimited course access during the free trial period, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Exam Prep Edge: Offers a free initial assessment, study lessons by topic, and unlimited real estate practice exams. In some states, Exam Prep Edge also offers a pass guarantee.
- Interactive course features: Videos and practice questions make online learning more engaging and constantly gauge your understanding of each lesson.
- Customer support: Available seven days a week.
Customers of The CE Shop say that the software is easy to navigate and the courses are informative and engaging. They also say that the flexible course packages helped them get education and support at a great price.
However, some reviewers mentioned technical glitches that complicated their learning experience, while others were not satisfied with their interactions with customer support. Because of these challenges, The CE Shop received a customer review rating of 3.2 out of 5. If you’d prefer a more interactive online course with limited technical issues, Aceable Agent may be a better choice.
The CE Shop provides individual courses and package options to earn your real estate license, prepare for the exam, renew your license, or upgrade your license. Specific course packages vary by state.
Education Type | Nationwide Availability | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | 46 states | $139-$1,499 |
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Post-licensing | 25 states | $19-$275 |
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Broker Prelicensing | 18 states | $115-$1,049 |
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Continued Education | 51 states | $9-$55 |
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Exam Prep | 51 states | $79-$135 |
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Colibri Real Estate: Best for Support & Study Tools
Pros
- Various course formats available on all devices
- Direct instructor support and access
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee
Cons
- Only six months to finish the course after the purchase
- No in-person class option
- No mid-level pricing courses
Our Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate ranks as one of the best accredited real estate schools online because of the variety of tools and support features offered in their packages. For example, its prelicensing course packages include state-required education hours with instructor support, additional study guides, coaching videos, how-to videos, flashcards, audio review guides, and live Q&A sessions with instructors. On the other hand, my team and I believe it could improve by providing more than six months for students to complete their courses.
Exam Prep Plus dashboard
- Accreditations: ARELLO and IDECC
- Refund policy: A full refund must be requested within 30 days from the date of purchase for online courses and within 24 hours of the first day of any livestream course. For livestream classes, students can switch to self-paced courses after the 24-hour period.
- Course extension: Option to extend your course access at a cost for seven, 30, or up to 60 days.
- Career support: Regular career expos to attend, as well as the online Career Hub with articles, blogs, and advice.
- Exam prep: Consists of dozens of practice exams, a readiness assessment, audio review guides, real estate flashcards, and an exam webinar series.
Colibri Real Estate has a great rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from customers. Students love the convenience, ease of use, and affordable course options. Many reviewers said the material helped them pass the real estate exam on the first try.
In the negative reviews, some users claimed that the learning materials contain many typos, need to be updated, and differ from the final exam. Some students also expressed that they would have liked more audio and video components in the course material. If you would prefer a real estate online school with more engaging course formats, Kaplan would be the alternative school I recommend.
Colibri Real Estate offers multiple package options in every state, so students can choose how much they are willing to budget. Basic course-only packages are extremely affordable, while Ultimate Learning packages that include all the study tools are more of an investment.
Education Type | Nationwide Availability | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | 41 states | $147-$1,799 |
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Post-licensing | 15 states | $19.95-$389 |
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Broker Prelicensing | 10 states | $199-$888 |
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Continued Education* | 51 states | $19-$175 |
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Exam Prep | 51 states | $99-$115 |
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*Offered by affiliate partner, McKissock Learning
Visit Colibri Real Estate – Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off
VanEducation Center: Best for Flexible Payment Options
Pros
- Direct instructor access
- One-year access to courses
- Comprehensive courses for every stage of your career
Cons
- No in-person classes or a physical school to visit for support
- No pass guarantee
- No livestream learning format
Our Expert Opinion on VanEducation Center
VanEducation Center (VanEd) is one of the best real estate accredited schools for aspiring and current agents who need affordable courses and flexible payment options without sacrificing the quality of their education. It offers a free five-day trial and the option to pay in full or two or three monthly payments, which our team sees as a standout feature. Plus, the courses utilize multimedia elements like texts, graphics, audio, and video. However, I could see VanEd being improved by offering interactive study groups and a mobile app for easy navigation.
Customizable post-licensing course package (Source: VanEducation Center)
- Accreditations: ARELLO, IDECC, The Real Estate Educators Association (REEA), and Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI)
- Refund policy: If you’re not satisfied with VanEd’s education program, you may request a refund within 72 hours of purchase. The refund applies if you have not yet completed 50% or more of the purchased course.
- Career enrichment and professional development programs: Offers real estate appraisal, real estate professional training, and designations and certification courses.
- Real estate agent resources: Free access to blogs, how-to’s, and real estate tips.
- Instructor access: Contact instructors via email, chat, phone, and its online Q&A system; premium packages include a Personal Academic Advisor to assist agents in advancing through their courses.
VanEd has a great customer review rating of 4.3 out of 5, with students praising its affordable and easy-to-use online courses. Some students noted that courses contained detailed real estate topics, capturing all critical information. According to them, these courses boosted their confidence and helped them ace their exams.
However, some students wished for more interactive elements within the courses. If you desire lively interactions with instructors, we suggest Aceable Agent for its multimedia learning experience that includes interactive games, infographics, and videos. These elements help students stay focused and make classes engaging.
VanEducation Center provides a variety of packages for all stages of your real estate career, with increasing study tools and bonuses in each package. Continuing education courses can be purchased individually or as a package.
Education Type | Nationwide Availability | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | 14 states | $100-$599 |
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Post-licensing | 6 states | $39-$199 |
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Broker Prelicensing | 2 states | $400-$475 |
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Continued Education | 7 states | $9-$39 |
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Exam Prep | 51 states | $59-$79 |
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How We Evaluated the Best Online Schools for Real Estate
To be included in this list of the best online schools for real estate, schools had to be accredited by governing state and testing agencies and offer competitive pricing, course features, refund policy, and customer reviews. Also, since each state requires a specific course curriculum and hours of prelicensing, post-licensing, and continuing education, we looked at accredited real estate schools that offered online courses for agents in the highest number of states.
After researching dozens of options, we determined that Aceable Agent is the top option among the best online schools for real estate. The innovative online course formats, learning style methodology, reasonable prices, and nationwide presence were contributing factors that pushed this school to the top spot. We recommend it for those seeking to get their real estate license for the first time or maintain their license and get ahead of the competition.
We used the following criteria to evaluate each of the top real estate accredited schools:
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost and availability of pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
15% of Overall Score
The availability of each level of education for different stages of licensure. This would include pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
15% of Overall Score
Extending services past licensure such as coaching, training, and career assistance. Also, whether the provider offers pass or refund guarantees for its courses.
10% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the provider, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
10% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
5% of Overall Score
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In order to become a real estate professional, you don’t need to attend a college or university or earn your degree. Instead, each state requires you to complete prelicensing education and pass an exam. The required coursework can be done through an online real estate school. Learn more about how to get a real estate license in every state.
Yes, each state has its own set of required education hours, testing methods, and application specifications. However, all states have age requirements to qualify for licensing, with the majority requiring 18 years or older. Furthermore, regardless of which state you obtain your real estate license from, you must attend prelicensing classes. The number of hours required varies by state but can range from 40, like in Michigan and New Hampshire, to 180 in Texas.
Prices for accredited online real estate colleges vary depending on the course, location, amenities, and learning method. Depending on where you live and whether you choose to include exam prep, online prelicensing classes can cost anywhere from $100 to over $2,000. But if you wish to attend a live, in-person class—not including exam prep—this typically costs more than $1,000.
Bottom Line
Choosing from the top accredited real estate schools can be difficult, but it will help you build a successful real estate career. Based on our research, we found that Aceable Agent is the top overall online school for real estate because of its engaging courses, user-friendly mobile platform, and extensive study tools.
