6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Michigan
Gina is a licensed real estate salesperson, experienced trainer, and former high school educator of 1,000+ learners. She writes for Fit Small Business with a focus on real estate content.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
The highest-quality real estate schools in the Great Lake State are comprised of great pricing, a variety of course formats, and robust features that will help to complete the 40 hours of preliminary licensing as well as ongoing educational needs. Whether you are an aspiring agent, need to meet Michigan real estate license renewal requirements, or are ready to upgrade your career, we’ve analyzed dozens of providers to determine which online schools are a best fit for your needs.
- Kaplan: Best for individuals looking for high-quality education and live assistance to jump-start their real estate career
- Colibri Real Estate: Best for aspiring agents seeking a courses in a high mix of learning formats to better fit educational needs
- Michigan Institute of Real Estate: Best for experienced agents wanting to upgrade to a broker’s license
- McKissock Learning: Best for established agents wanting customizable continuing education (CE) credits for license renewal
- The CE Shop: Best for aspiring agents who want to complete their prelicensing education in the shortest time possible
- RealEstateU: Best for professionals seeking the most affordable, self-paced initial licensing education
School | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $199 CE: $39 Exam Prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $179 CE: $84.95 Exam Prep: $99.99 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $295 Post-licensing: $295 CE: $39.99 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | CE: $84.95 |
| ✓ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $199 CE: $19 Exam Prep: $119 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $149 Exam Prep: $75 |
| ✕ | Email |
Kaplan: Overall Best for High-quality Education & Live Assistance
Kaplan
Overall Score: 4.51 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Live format components
- Course demos
- Instructor access
What's Missing
- Six months from purchase to complete
- Mid-range pricing
- Customer support is limited
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $199
- Continued education: $39
- Exam prep: $99
Kaplan has a great reputation as a leader in the education realm, and this trend continues for online real estate education. As the best overall pick, Kaplan sets itself apart from the competition with its expert instructors, easy-to-navigate platform, and student-focused education. The most unique addition to its Michigan licensing education is the interactive study group and real estate accelerator.
With both of their prelicensing packages, you will get access to the interactive study group live webinar, where you are able to speak with expert faculty and other students to cover the national licensing content for exam preparation. Purchasing the enhanced package will give you access to the live online real estate accelerator course—an eight-hour intensive course with eight weeks of professional coaching. These add-ons are designed to propel your real estate career right from the beginning.
Additional Features
- Available on all devices
- Customizable continuing education courses
- Eligible for a refund within 30 days of purchase
- Online test engine for exam practice
- Accredited by Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC)
Colibri Real Estate: Most Course Format Variety for Prelicensing Education
Colibri Real Estate
Overall Score: 4.29 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Tiered course packages
- Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
- Course format variety
What's Missing
- Six months to complete from purchase
- Exam prep is an additional cost
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $179
- Continued education: $84.95
- Exam prep: $99.99
Whether you are self-motivated or need a little extra guidance, Colibri Real Estate has got you covered. Their technologically savvy Learning Management System (LMS) gives aspiring agents interactive support to prepare for the licensing exam. Also, with the purchase of the Exam Prep Master comes the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, which adds an additional level of assurance to your wallet. A feature that sets Colibri Real Estate apart from its competitors is the option for self-paced or livestreaming learning. This allows new agents the option to pick the learning environment to best suit their needs.
Additional Features
- 90-day boot camp program
- Exam preparation with simulations
- Professional development package available
- Customer support via text, email, and live chat
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
Pro tip: Start your real estate education today with a special offer from Colibri Real Estate.
Now through May 25, get 30% off and a $50 gift card toward your license or renewal.
Michigan Institute of Real Estate: Best for Attaining a Broker’s License
Michigan Institute of Real Estate
Overall Score: 4.03 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Course format variety
- Coaching sessions
- Classes for every stage of your real estate career
What's Missing
- Most expensive pricing
- Eligible for refund three days prior to course
- Limited customer service hours
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $295
- Post-licensing: $295
- Continued education: $39.99
- Exam prep: Cram course included
If you’re looking for a school that has a pulse on the Michigan real estate market, look no further than Michigan Institute of Real Estate, a proprietary school of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). With this provider, you can choose the learning environment that is best suited to your learning style: in-person, online, or home study. Unlike many of the nationwide education providers, Michigan Institute of Real Estate includes the option of broker licensing education. In addition, they offer a 12-part real estate review video course for prelicensing exam preparation free of charge after completing your classes.
Additional Features
- Available on all devices
- DVDs and flashcards with premium purchase
- 95% exam pass rate
- Real Estate Book available via PDF
- Accredited by LARA
Visit Michigan Institute of Real Estate
McKissock Learning: Best for Customizable Continuing Education
McKissock Learning
Overall Score: 3.95 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Free learning aids
- Instructors with real-world experience
- Printable material
What's Missing
- Eligible for refund within 10 days of any course not completed
- Does not include broker’s license
- CE mid-range pricing
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $179
- Continued education: $84.95
- Exam prep: $99.99
Renewing your real estate license is not only required, but also an invaluable way to keep up to date with the latest laws and trends in the real estate industry. While its platform partner, Colibri Real Estate, handles the prelicensing education, McKissock Learning is in charge of the continuing education. McKissock gives agents the ability to purchase a complete package of courses or to tailor their learning with individual course purchases.
A standout package is their Unlimited Access package, which allows 24/7 access to professional development tools, an online webinar library with informational videos, real estate coaches, and more. This tool can not only fulfill your education hours, but also help to boost your real estate career and industry knowledge.
Additional Features
- One year from purchase to complete courses
- Membership allows access to all materials for one year
- Course formats: text-based online and webinar
- Over 100 job aids (worksheets, scripts, and checklists)
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
The CE Shop: Best to Fast-track Your Prelicensing Education
The CE Shop
Overall Score: 3.89 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Tiered package options
- Courses expire after 12 months
- Eligible for 30-day money-back guarantee
What's Missing
- Mid-range pricing
- Limited course format variety
- No direct instructor access
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $199
- Continued education: $85
- Exam prep: $119
When you’re learning to become a real estate agent, you want to comprehend the information, but also get through it in a timely manner. To fast-track your education, The CE Shop treats the 40 hours of required education like a 40-hour work week to get you through the material quickly. Their proprietary content delivery platform, LEAP 2.0, provides interactive activities and tailored feedback to allow an in-classroom feel to at-home learners. In addition, the practice exercises bring extra value to your exam preparation by guiding your progress and assisting you through each topic and in order to pass the Michigan real estate exam.
Additional Features
- Customer support seven days a week
- Accessible on all devices
- Downloadable content
- Agent essentials resource page with news and career tips
- Accredited by ARELLO
RealEstateU: Most Affordable Prelicensing Education
RealEstateU
Overall Score: 3.80 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Textbooks available by PDF or Kindle
- Easy-to-navigate website
- Audio courses
What's Missing
- Self-paced format only
- Limited customer support
- No post-licensing education available
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $149
- Exam prep: $75
After beginning their online courses in New York, RealEstateU expanded to many other states, including The Wolverine State of Michigan. So if you’re saving up for the next Michigan State game, this budget-friendly option is right up your alley. Not only does RealEstateU have the most affordable education, it also has the standout feature of audio courses. The audio versions are perfect for individuals on the go, and also include a transcript of the material so you won’t miss any information. The addition of real estate books on the Kindle allows you the ability to lounge by the lake while you’re learning.
Additional Features
- Available on all devices
- One year from purchase to complete courses
- Eligible for refund within 30 days
- Final school exam taken at home
- Accredited by LARA and Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI)
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools
The education required to become a Michigan real estate agent is considerably less than other states, but that doesn’t mean it should be any less comprehensive and time-efficient. Online education provides advanced learning methodology while allowing access to materials from the comfort of your home on your own time. We’ve narrowed down the top online real estate schools in Michigan that provide these advantages along with customer support, reasonable prices, interactive activities, and a variety of additional course features.
After research, we found that Kaplan, with a score of 4.51 out of 5, is the best overall choice for accredited online real estate education because of its course packages, customer service, and expert faculty.
Other criteria that was evaluated is as follows:
35%
Pricing
35%
Course Features
15%
Help & Support
15%
Customer Reviews
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 specific needs of the agent as well as 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.
*Percentages of overall score
