by our College Data Analytics TeamMany people desire to own their home. It is a big investment, but one that usually grows over time. There to help them through the process is a Real Estate Agent. However, there is much more to the field of Real Estate than simply selling houses.
Real Estate Professionals act as the bridge between people and properties. They are the masters of purchasing and constructing properties all around the world. Majoring in Real Estate will teach students how to develop, buy, sell and apprise, and manage homes, residential or commercial properties, and land for other use.
Some of the classes you will take are real estate law, real estate investment, real estate-residential, and real estate-commercial. These courses will help you gain knowledge of the fundamentals. This major is commonly offered as an Associate's degree, but some schools also offer it as a Bachelor's. Obtaining a bachelor degree allows a more in-depth knowledge of the field with the chance of higher paying jobs with more responsibility.
In 2020-2021, real estate was the 155th most popular major nationwide with 6,547 degrees awarded. This represents a 13.6% increase in real estate degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 5,658.
Our 2023 Best Real Estate Schools ranking analyzes 92 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for real estate students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of real estate programs later in this article.
This is a great major for students who love interacting with people. The ability to relate to others and competently address concerns and answer questions is important. It is vital to be goal-oriented and driven, as many jobs pay a salary that is mostly commission based. If you enjoy being creative and seeing through a project to the end, this major would be suited for you.
Internships and work experience are advised to help you get ahead. This becomes even more important for students who choose to get an Associate's.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific real estate careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Real Estate degree levels vary. Real Estate programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest real estate degree you can get. Real Estate programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to real estate, with approximately 31.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for real estate workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 31.2% |
| High School Diploma | 21.7% |
| Some College Courses | 15.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.3% |
About 51.2% of workers in careers related to real estate obtain at least associate degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in real estate have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which real estate career you choose.
Graduates with a degree in Real Estate can become more than just Real Estate Agents. Other opportunities include Stockbrokers, Financial Service Sales Agents, Personal Financial Advisors, Insurance Sales Agents, and Real Estate Appraisers. The common focus in all these careers is working with people.
Real Estate Appraisers determine how much a piece of land or property is valued at. Insurance Sales Agents assist client with choosing what insurance policies would protect their lives, property, and health. The demand has for these professional has grown immensely.
Want a job when you graduate with your real estate degree? Real Estate careers are expected to grow 8.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to real estate.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agents | 369,000 | 5.8% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 349,900 | 10.3% |
| Real Estate Brokers | 100,000 | 4.9% |
| Real Estate Appraisers | 92,400 | 14.4% |
Recently graduated real estate students earned an average of $60,568 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $29,178 to as high as $119,383. As you might expect, salaries for real estate graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for real estate graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers real estate grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Brokers | $78,940 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $71,730 |
| Real Estate Appraisers | $61,870 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $61,720 |
With over 407 different real estate degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased real estate school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Real Estate that might interest you.
Real Estate is one of 21 different types of Business, Management & Marketing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration & Management | 416,590 |
| Accounting | 99,265 |
| Finance & Financial Management | 57,778 |
| General Business/Commerce | 56,042 |
| Marketing | 52,916 |
Image Credit: By Godrej Mamurdi Pune under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
