Whether you need to complete the initial 168 hours required by the state of Colorado to get your broker’s license, need continuing education to renew it, or are upgrading to an employing broker’s license, online education is a great option. We’ve explored dozens of online education providers in the Centennial State to help narrow down the best school programs for any stage of your real estate career.
Kaplan | Colorado Real Estate School | Real Estate Express | The CE Shop | Real Estate College of Colorado | Van Education Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: |
(Best overall) Individuals in any stage of their real estate career seeking a variety of learning formats | Access to local real estate experts for all stages of licensing | Bundled packages for candidates seeking initial licensing education | Experienced agents seeking customizable continuing education for license renewal | Most affordable prelicensing education for aspiring agents | Agents with at least two years' experience looking to upgrade to employing broker status |
Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: |
$799 | $399 | $379 | $399 | $295 | $449 |
Things you need to know before enrolling for your Colorado 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 Colorado to help you get started.
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in Colorado
Broker administration training requires a substantial amount of time to be sitting in a classroom: 168 hours of prelicensing, 24 hours of continuing education, and 24 hours of broker administration. Luckily, online education is a great alternative to ensure you are getting high-quality real estate education while maintaining your daily routine.
The best real estate schools will provide a variety of course formats to choose from, interactive learning strategies, positive customer reviews, and reasonable pricing to accommodate each learner’s needs. We’ve taken a close look at local and national education providers with these factors in consideration to determine the best accredited online real estate schools in Colorado.
With a variety of learning environments available that combine an in-person feel with at-home comfort, we’ve found Kaplan to be the best overall online real estate school. Additions of live study sessions, exam preparation tools, and instructional expertise have given Kaplan a leg up among its competitors.
We also took the following criteria into consideration during evaluation:
35% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost for pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
Education Available
The level of courses provided by each site according to licensing stage: prelicensing for new agents, post-licensing for agents who are seeking a broker’s license, continued education for licensed agents looking for license renewal options, and exam preparation.
35% of Overall Score
Consist of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the agent’s specific needs and ease of course accessibility.
15% of Overall Score
Convenience and attainability of customer service support for technical support and instructor assistance.
15% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program (with particular attention given to value for money) to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
Kaplan: Best Overall Online Real Estate School in Colorado
Kaplan
What We Like
- Variety of course formats
- Live interactions
- Course demos
What's Missing
- Highest pricing
- Limited customer support
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $799
- Post-licensing: $199
- Continuing education: $75
- Exam prep: $199
Whether you are seeking your initial license, a license upgrade, or continuing education, Kaplan is an excellent choice for high-quality online real estate education for any stage of your career. It stands out from its competitors by providing a choice of learning environments to choose from to best fit your learning style. For those who are independently motivated, home study or OnDemand options could work, but for those who need a little more hands-on encouragement, the live stream option can keep you on course.
In addition to the course format variety, Kaplan offers two opportunities for live interaction: study group and career mentorship. Both are live discussions with expert faculty members and fellow students that will help to not only prepare you for your exam, but also for your professional real estate career.
Additional Features
- Six months from purchase to complete
- 4.2 out of 5-star customer review rating
- Courses written by real estate professionals
- Agent resource center includes articles, advice, and career information
- Full refund within 30 days of purchase
- Accredited by ARELLO (Association of Real Estate License Law Officials) and IDECC (International Distance Education Certification Center)
Colorado Real Estate School: Best for Access to Local Experts
Colorado Real Estate School
What We Like
- Tiered package options
- Low cost
- Additional math instruction
What's Missing
- Instructor support hours only on weekdays
- Limited refund policy
- No live chat customer service
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $399
- Post-licensing: $199
- Continuing education: $59
- Exam prep: $89
Located in Denver with over 130 reviews, Colorado Real Estate School is the place for you if you’re looking for fellow Coloradans to assist with your learning. It boasts an online experience that replicates a classroom environment by offering self-paced video streaming and open book exams to test your knowledge.
All of the packages provide additional math assistance by breaking down equations into “Math Moments” for easier comprehension. A unique feature included with the deluxe package is the pass incentive, which guarantees a refund of your state exam fee ($44.95) if you pass the exam on the first try within four months of enrollment.
Additional Features
- 4.8 out of 5 stars customer rating
- Six to 10 months of access from purchase depending on package
- Digital copy of textbook provided
- Unlimited practice exams
- Accredited by Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools
Visit Colorado Real Estate School
Real Estate Express: Best Bundled Packages for Prelicensing Education
Real Estate Express
What We Like
- Purchase packages or individual courses
- Career hub
- Live customer support
What's Missing
- No employing broker education offered
- Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee not available with the Basic package
- Mid-level pricing
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $379
- Continuing education: $125.97
- Exam prep: $99
The success of your real estate career begins with your success in an online real estate program. Real Estate Express tailors its bundled packages to accommodate all types of learning styles, which sets it apart from other providers.
Whether you are looking for a more guided approach or independent learning to become a real estate agent, Real Estate Express’ learning management system (LMS) gives you access to live interaction with other students, expert instructors, and Q&A sessions and forums. In addition, “Smart Bites” is another tool that will break down real estate knowledge into smaller comprehensive pieces to help you prep for and pass your exam.
Additional Features
- Six-month access after purchase
- Customer support via phone, email, live chat, and text
- 90-Day Boot Camp to ensure success
- 4.4 out of 5-star customer rating
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
Pro tip: Start your real estate education today with a special offer for our readers from Real Estate Express. Use promo code FSB25 for 25% off your purchase.
The CE Shop: Best for Customizable Continuing Education
The CE Shop
What We Like
- Interactive learning
- Individual or package options
- Support offered 7 days a week via phone, email, and chat
What's Missing
- Mid-range pricing
- No direct instructor access
- Live stream instruction not available
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $399
- Post-licensing: $240
- Continuing education: $99
- Exam prep: $119
Every three years, Colorado requires 24 hours of education in order for agents to renew their licenses. With a 4.7 customer rating, The CE Shop is the top choice for new and experienced agents to gain continuing education (CE) hours. Even though their courses are 100% self-paced, they still maintain an engaging environment by including interactive exercises through their custom learning platform LEAP 2.0. The customizable course selection gives The CE Shop an edge over other providers. With class options such as Ethics at Work, Personal Safety, and Technology Tools, Trends, and Risk Management, you can pick and choose the continuing education that interests you and builds expertise in the areas you wish to focus your business.
Additional Features
- Agent Essentials resource page
- Accessible on all devices
- Courses expire after 12 months
- Downloadable content
- 30-day refund policy
- Accredited by ARELLO
Real Estate College of Colorado: Most Affordable Prelicensing Education
Real Estate College of Colorado
What We Like
- Low cost
- Self-paced or live stream classes
- Taught by local experts
What's Missing
- Instructor access within specific hours
- No employing broker education available
- Limited refund policy
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $295
- Exam prep: $90
If you’re looking for better seats than the Rockpile, save some money with a high-quality education from the Real Estate College of Colorado. Aspiring agents can tailor their education to self-paced or live webinar classes depending on their level of comfort with independent learning.
Not only does the Real Estate College of Colorado offer the best pricing for real estate courses, but it also includes a warranty policy that stands out from its competitors. If a student fulfills the prelicensing education but does not pass the licensing exam, they are entitled to retake the full program for up to six months at no additional cost.
Additional Features
- In-person classes also available
- 4.8 out of 5-star customer rating
- One year to complete from purchase
- Customer service support during business hours
- Accredited by Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education
Visit Real Estate College of Colorado
Van Education Center: Best for Upgrading to an Employing Broker License
Van Education Center
What We Like
- Self-paced format with interactive elements
- 5-day free trial
- Frequent discounts
What's Missing
- Mid-range pricing
- No live stream courses
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $449
- Post-licensing: $225
- Continuing education: $79
- Exam prep: $99
In order to be in charge of your own brokerage in Colorado, you are mandated to have at least two years and 50 points of experience, and also complete the 24 hours of broker administration training. Van Education Center (VanEd) is your go-to option for moving toward your employing broker license. A robust online platform provides easy navigation through courses and interactive features that include flashcards, quizzes, progress charts, and glossaries.
VanEd’s unique element is the Q&A system that allows you to post questions directly to professional instructors 24/7, as well as access to the Q&A database to get quick answers to all of your career-based inquiries.
Additional Features
- One year from purchase to complete courses
- Available on all devices
- 4.4 out of 5-star customer rating
- Eligible for full refund
- Accredited by ARELLO, IDECC, and the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board