Finding the right education to fit your learning needs is essential to starting a successful real estate career in Illinois. Whether you’re seeking your initial broker licensing, post-licensing, continuing education (CE), or upgrading to a broker’s license, the best online real estate schools in Illinois offer a variety of course formats, reasonable pricing, and engaging features to tailor your education.
Based on these criteria, we determined the six best real estate schools in Illinois:
- Colibri Real Estate: Best school for online learning with comprehensive exam prep for all real estate career stages
- Illinois Realtors: Ideal for real estate brokers who want extensive career development and certifications
- The CE Shop: Best interactive self-paced education for agents who need a flexible schedule
- Your House Real Estate Academy: Top choice for current real estate professionals wanting CE with a live instructor
- Real Estate Institute: Ideal choice for aspiring agents wanting the widest variety of live course schedules
- Net Real Estate School: Excellent option for agents who want personalized support from an instructor in-person or online
Best Online Real Estate Schools in Illinois at a Glance
Schools | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing:$356 Post-licensing:$279 Managing broker licensing: $200 CE: $29 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Colibri Real Estate - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off | ||||
 | Prelicensing: $129 Post-licensing: $99 Managing broker licensing: $149 CE: $10.95 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $359 Post-licensing: $115 Managing broker licensing: $359 CE: $45 Exam prep: $79 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit The CE Shop - Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off | ||||
 | Prelicensing: $449 Post-licensing: $149 Managing broker licensing: $190 CE: $10 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, online form |
 | Prelicensing: $250 Post-licensing: $299 Managing broker licensing: $200 CE: $35 Exam prep: $49 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $359 Post-licensing: $75 Managing broker licensing: $399 CE: $19 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
To find out which Illinois real estate school will best suit your real estate needs, take this quick quiz:
Which Illinois online real estate school is right for you?
Things you need to know before enrolling for your Illinois real estate license education:
Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our step-by-step guide to becoming a real estate agent in Illinois to help you get started.
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Colibri Real Estate: Best for Online Learning With Comprehensive Exam Prep for All Licensing Stages
Pros
- Instructor assistance provided
- Courses for all stages of your real estate career
- Course access for six months with available extension
Cons
- No interactive study groups available
- 1:1 coaching not provided
- No mobile app
Our Expert Opinion About Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate is a premier online real estate education provider across the country, offering online prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education (CE), broker licensing, and exam preparation courses for agents in all stages of their real estate careers. Courses are available as self-paced options or live webinars for those who want to learn in real time with an instructor.
Plus, a few of the prelicensing packages are combined with exam prep from CompuCram, which includes a variety of study tools like flashcards, audio review guides, instructor sessions, and simulated exams. Colibri could improve by providing a mobile app, since many students prefer to work on their courses from their smartphones.
Course dashboard
- Accreditations: Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC), and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
- Learning management system: Provides students with an in-person classroom experience in online learning
- Real estate coaching: Colibri has partnered with Buffini & Company to provide agents with training and coaching services
- Smart Bites: A learning methodology to help students remember and retain course materials
- Satisfaction Guarantee: Full refund if students are not satisfied with the courses within a week of online course purchase or a week after the first day of class for livestream courses
Customers rate Colibri Real Estate a 4.1 out of 5 stars, with most reviews highlighting the course flexibility. Many students enjoyed taking the Illinois online real estate class entirely online between other professional commitments. One student liked the ability to adjust their learning schedule to complete the course quickly. In addition, the extra practice exams helped students feel confident and prepared to pass the exams.
A few students would have preferred the online courses to include more visuals and interaction, like charts and videos. Some students specifically mentioned difficulties with finding a proctor for taking the exams. Students who don’t want to find a proctor and test location should consider a local Illinois school with an office location for test taking, like Your House Real Estate Academy or Real Estate Institute.
Colibri Real Estate education offers education and course plans for all stages of a real estate career. There are multiple packages for prelicensing, continuing education, and exam prep, so you can choose the price and course offerings that best fit your needs.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $356 to $670 |
|
Post-licensing | $279 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $200 |
|
Continued Education | $29 to $269 per year |
|
Exam Prep | $99 to $499 |
|
Visit Colibri Real Estate – Use Promo Code: FSB30 for 30% off
Illinois Realtors: Best for Extensive Career Development Assistance
Pros
- Instructors are reachable for assistance
- Career assistance is included in its courses
- Financial aid offered
Cons
- No pass guarantee
- Courses are non-refundable after they begin
- No mobile app
Our Expert Opinion About Illinois Realtors
Illinois Realtors is one of Illinois’ largest real estate trade associations that also offers licensing education. It’s named one of the best real estate schools in Illinois for career development because it offers a variety of designations, certifications, and endorsements, including the Graduate and REALTOR Institute designations. These courses provide agents with the proper training and credentials to build a successful real estate career.
Another unique offering from Illinois Realtors is the 15-hour residential leasing agent prelicense course. This course is specific to residential leasing activity, which provides additional cash flow to buyer and seller agents. The school could improve by offering a refund policy or satisfaction guarantee.
Training on finding a sponsoring broker (Source: Illinois Realtors)
- Accreditation: IDFPR
- D2L online course platform: Both self-led and instructor-led courses created by experienced Illinois REALTORS
- Hybrid course formats: Students can have an instructor-paced course combined with self-led learning
- Leadership development program: Agents can apply to participate in the program for professional placement and training
- Scholarships: Students with financial hardships can apply for scholarships, grants, and tuition reimbursement through the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation
The positive reviews of Illinois Realtors said the courses and learning materials were organized and easy to follow. Many said the package they purchased was an affordable option, and some students could complete the course in just a few weeks. Students said the course thoroughly prepared them to pass the state exam, which probably contributed to Illinois Realtors being rated 4.6 out of 5 by customers.
Although there were no reviews under 4 stars, some students noted wanting more explanation about on-the-job training. Some also reported that it was challenging to access instructors when not participating in live sessions. For a school with extended business hours for a higher response time, students should consider The CE Shop for its real estate classes in Illinois.
Illinois Realtors offers classes presented on LEAP Learning and D2L online course platforms to meet individual learning styles. There are courses offered for every stage of your real estate career, as well as a variety of professional development options. Illinois Realtors does not provide any refund options.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $129 to $619 |
|
Post-licensing | $99 to $269 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $149 to $259 |
|
Continued Education | $10.95 to $199 |
|
Exam Prep | $49 to $99 |
|
The CE Shop: Best Online Self-paced Platform With Interactive Elements
Pros
- Can complete courses in as little as 2 weeks
- Interactive study groups available
- Career resources offered in all prelicensing packages
Cons
- No livestream or on-demand courses
- Instructor assistance limited
- No mobile application
Our Expert Opinion About The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers self-paced courses, allowing students to take their courses anywhere, any time. For every education type provided, The CE Shop provides a selection of plans with varying amounts of tools and resources, like e-books, exam prep, business courses, and a real estate glossary. In fact, the CE Shop has a student satisfaction rate of 96%.
Whether you are looking to become an agent, managing broker, or renew your license, The CE Shop is one of the best real estate schools in Illinois because it makes it easy to reach your goals on your own time. However, there is room for improvement in offering live webinars or on-demand video courses. Its user-friendly online platform could also connect students with instructors or study groups.
LEAP platform (Source: The CE Shop)
- Accreditations: ARELLO, IDFPR
- Refund policy: The CE Shop will provide a refund for any course within 30 days of purchase if the course is not more than 50% completed; for Exam Prep Edge, refunds are only eligible if the initial assessment wasn’t completed
- LEAP platform: The custom LEAP 2.0 platform helps engage students and provides interactive learning
- Agent Essentials resources: Resources to support an agent’s business growth, like blogs, e-books, webinars, podcasts, etc.
- Unlimited practice exams: Practice test familiarizes a student with topics that will be on the final exam
- Interactive dashboards: Real-time dashboards gauge students’ proficiency on course topics throughout the program
The user-friendly courses and ability to take the classes at home garner The CE Shop a positive review rating of 3.6 out of 5. Students say the course was easy to navigate, and the material was thorough and comprehensive. One student specifically mentioned that Exam Prep Edge gave them the confidence to pass the test on their first attempt.
Some students experienced some technical difficulties when attempting to complete the final test. They also expressed frustration with customer service and the short free trial period. For students who would like to focus on Illinois real estate schools with highly accessible customer support, Colibri Real Estate provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee and multiple methods to contact the support team.
The CE Shop’s real estate courses in Illinois aim to fit all student budgets, so there are options for every education type. The most affordable courses include the basic necessities, and premium packages include all possible features and add-ons.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $359 to $725 |
|
Post-licensing | $115 to $295 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $359 to $725 |
|
Continued Education | $45 to $105 |
|
Exam Prep | $79 to $135 |
|
Your House Real Estate Academy: Best for Live CE Classes
Pros
- Multiple course format options
- Variety of scheduling options
- Direct instructor access
Cons
- No pass guarantee
- No refunds
- No mobile app
Our Expert Opinion About Your House Real Estate Academy
Your House Real Estate Academy is an Illinois-focused education provider that offers classes in-person, live online, and self-paced online courses. There are over 25 Chicago locations and various class schedules during evenings, daytime, and a four-week accelerated program. All students receive access to an online student portal that provides even more resources like study guides and practice tests.
Your House Real Estate Academy is the best online real estate school in Illinois for both aspiring and current brokers and managing brokers who want to learn directly from a real estate instructor without having to sacrifice convenience. It could improve by offering course access for more than six months, or by providing a satisfaction guarantee for students.
In-person course schedule (Source: Your House Real Estate Academy)
- Accreditation: IDFPR
- Refund policy: Your House Real Estate Academy does not offer refunds or a satisfaction guarantee
- Flexible schedule: Six months of course access, and it’s easy to reschedule any missed sessions online or in-person
- Course location options: Highest number of physical locations, with 25 possible offices near Chicago to find a course that works for you
- Additional resources: Ongoing workshops for brokers, articles and resources on its website, and digital resources in the student portal
- Award-winning instructors: Expert instructors who have won multiple Educator of the Year awards
Your House Real Estate Academy has the highest customer review rating of all the Illinois real estate schools, with a 4.9 out of 5. Students enthusiastically recommend Your House for real estate students of all kinds, saying that the instructors are welcoming, professional, and engaging. Reviewers say that their instructor goes beyond teaching the course material and helps make professional recommendations for their careers.
A small number of unhappy reviewers expressed frustration when their courses expired after six months. They also noted poor experiences with instructors and miscommunication with customer support. If you’d prefer to choose an Illinois real estate school with a smaller number of staff members who are easier to contact, consider Net Real Estate School.
Whether you are working to become a broker, maintain your license, or become a managing broker, Your House Real Estate Academy has a variety of course options for you to choose from. The pricing structure is easy to understand. The only course that doesn’t have multiple options is exam prep, because the prelicensing course is designed to prepare you for the exam. However, students can purchase a drill and question bank individually.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $449 to $599 |
|
Post-licensing | $149 to $297 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $190 to $285 |
|
Continued Education | $10 to $245 |
|
Exam Prep | $99 |
|
Visit Your House Real Estate Academy
Real Estate Institute: Best Variety of Live Course Schedules
Pros
- 1:1 coaching and training
- Access to instructor assistance
- Affordable prices
Cons
- Customer service only offered during business hours
- No course refunds
- Career assistance not provided
Our Expert Opinion About Real Estate Institute
Courses at Real Estate Institute are offered in-person, online, or through a live online webinar. Real Estate Institute also consistently hosts in-person classes at one of five locations, with 13 total location options. Plus, there are multiple schedule options to choose how quickly you would like to complete your education. Flex Path courses offer flexible schedules for students to complete the course independently. Directed Track courses offer three-, five-, six-, or eight-week course programs, while Fast Track is a two-week program with all-day webinars or live courses.
Because of the wide variety of options offered by Real Estate Institute, it’s the best real estate school in Illinois for students wanting to become a broker or managing broker. Its prelicensing courses for both allow you to choose the exact format and schedule that is ideal for you. This school could improve by offering more accessible customer service or creating a refund policy. It could also further support students by offering career assistance after students receive their licenses.
Course Search (Source: Real Estate Institute)
- Accreditation: IDFPR
- Course financing: In partnership with Affirm, students can make payments for their courses over three, six, or 12 months
- Q&A webinar: Access to instructors through weekly live Q&A webinar sessions
- Course location options: Five locations around Chicago, IL, that offer live courses
- Exam Prep: Exam preparation with Real Estate Institute is included in course tuition, but students can enroll with ExamSmart for additional learning
Real Estate Institute has one of the highest customer review ratings of 4.9 out of 5, with students raving about both the in-person and online course formats. Students say the courses are easy to follow, and engagement with instructors makes it a positive learning environment. Many reviews also report that customer service consistently goes above and beyond to help students.
Real Estate Institute had few negative reviews, but they mention issues with the online learning platform, like confusing navigation menus and the lack of a progress tracker. Overall, students who choose the online courses from Real Estate Institute don’t feel as supported or enthusiastic about their experiences. Students who want to avoid technical difficulties may consider the live in-person courses at Real Estate Institute or Net Real Estate.
Real Estate Institute offers an incredible variety of course options for real estate students at every level. The flexible learning packages allow prelicensing students to choose how fast they would like to complete each program and the course format. Post-licensing and exam prep are offered online only. Additionally, Real Estate Institute does not offer refunds.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $250 to $699 |
|
Post-licensing | $299 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $200 to $350 |
|
Continued Education | $35 to $149 |
|
Exam Prep | $49 to $59 |
|
Net Real Estate School: Best for Personalized Support
Pros
- Offers live and online class options
- Payment plans provided
- Accessible on all devices
Cons
- No pass guarantee
- No individual exam prep course
- Limited scheduling options for live courses
Our Expert Opinion About Net Real Estate School
Net Real Estate School is an Illinois-based education provider that prides itself on giving each student individualized attention. Its online real estate classes for Illinois real estate professionals are also some of the most affordable in the entire state. In addition, Net provides some of the best online real estate classes in Illinois through live webinars, self-paced webinars, or in-person courses.
Unlike other Illinois real estate schools, Net Real Estate School is operated by only three female instructors and real estate experts. Overall, the school’s affordable courses, various course options, and real estate instructors make it the best for brokers who want personalized education and support. However, Net Real Estate School could improve by offering a standalone exam prep course and a pass or satisfaction guarantee.
Course demo (Source: Net Real Estate School)
- Accreditation: IDFPR
- Career consultation: Complimentary career consultation via phone for aspiring real estate agents
- Free tutoring: For students who choose self-paced licensing courses
- Payment plans: For $244.50 down, students can register for the course and finalize full payment at a later date
- Instructor experience: Instructors have an extensive background in brokerage experience
Customers have given Net Real Estate School an excellent rating of 4.8 out of 5, with an emphasis on excellent course experience and the professionalism of instructors. Students say the classes are informative, the course materials are engaging, and instructors go above and beyond to help prepare their students for the exam. The students feel connected to their instructor since Net is a small local school.
There are very few negative reviews for Net Real Estate School. However, one student felt the live in-person classes were too crowded, causing a disruptive learning environment. Students who want space should consider taking an online live webinar class through Net or other providers like Colibri Real Estate School.
Unlike other real estate schools, Net does not offer an individual exam prep course for purchase. However, exam prep and practice tests are included in the tuition for the course, which is extremely affordable. It also offers a retake course package at a discounted rate for students who are unsuccessful in passing the exams. Net Real Estate School does not offer course refunds.
Education Type | Price Range | Course Details |
|---|---|---|
Prelicensing | $359 to $549 |
|
Post-licensing | $75 to $199 |
|
Broker Prelicensing | $399 |
|
Continued Education | $19 to $65 |
|
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in Illinois
Real estate brokers have many options when they’re looking for the best online real estate school in Illinois, whether they need to get a license, renew their license, or upgrade their license to become a managing broker. When choosing the top real estate schools in the state, we evaluated available course features, pricing, former student reviews, and customer support to find the best options for you.
After our analysis, we determined that Colibri Real Estate is the best overall Illinois online real estate school. Its comprehensive exam preparation package assures students are prepared to pass their final exams. With a strong customer review rating of 4.1 out of 5 and a satisfaction guarantee, Colibri Real Estate sets itself apart from all the other Illinois real estate classes.
We used the following criteria when determining the best online real estate school in Illinois:
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)
The cost of Illinois real estate education depends on the type of education you need and the school you choose. To become a real estate agent, Illinois prelicensing classes range from $129 to $725. Post-licensing and continuing education, which are required to renew your Illinois real estate license, range from $10.95 to $299. In order to become a managing broker, prelicensing courses range from $149 to $399.
The two fastest options to complete the material are The CE Shop and Real Estate Institute. The CE Shop offers a self-paced online course, and Real Estate Institute offers a live in-person and online schedule over two weeks.
Aspiring real estate agents in Illinois must complete 75 hours of required prelicensing courses before taking the real estate exam. After you pass the exam, apply for your real estate license, and choose a brokerage, you can start working as a real estate salesperson.
Illinois real estate brokers are required to complete 12 hours of approved continuing education courses every two years (every even-numbered year), and managing brokers must complete 24 hours. In addition, newly licensed Illinois brokers must also complete 45 hours of post-licensing courses along with the required 12 hours of CE for their first license renewal.
