The Ultimate Guide to the Top Real Estate Schools by State

Whether you’re starting a real estate career or seeking continuing education, the right school is key to preparing for your next step.

The best real estate school depends on your needs. New agents should focus on state-approved pre-licensing and exam prep. Experienced agents may seek continuing education, broker courses, or flexible online programs.

This guide highlights top online and state-specific real estate schools in major U.S. markets, including Florida, California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and more.

Important Note: Real estate licensing and continuing education requirements vary by state. Always confirm current requirements with your state’s real estate regulatory agency before enrolling.

Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate is a leading provider of real estate education, helping aspiring and established real estate professionals achieve their career goals through licensing, exam preparation, continuing education, professional development, and broker solutions. Through trusted brands serving agents, brokers, teams, and associations nationwide, Colibri Real Estate delivers flexible online and in-person learning experiences designed to support professionals at every stage of their careers. As part of Colibri Group, Colibri Real Estate empowers real estate professionals to build skills, stay compliant, and thrive in an evolving industry.

Benefits:

  • Self-paced online courses
  • Livestream instruction
  • State-specific licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Broker education
  • Instructor support

The CE Shop

The CE Shop is a well-known online provider that offers pre-licensing, exam prep, post-licensing, and continuing education in many states. Its online format is ideal for those needing to study around busy schedules.

Benefits:

  • Online coursework
  • Pre-licensing and continuing education options
  • State-specific courses
  • Flexible learning for working professionals
  • Exam preparation resources

Aceable Agent

Aceable Agent is built around online real estate education, with coursework you can complete on a computer or mobile device. Its format can be particularly appealing to people balancing licensing requirements with work, family, or another career.

Benefits:

  • Online learning
  • Mobile-friendly coursework
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Pre-licensing and exam preparation
  • Convenient for students studying outside traditional classroom hours

Kaplan Real Estate Education

Kaplan Real Estate Education is a long-established education provider offering real estate licensing and professional education in select states. Its broader educational infrastructure makes it an option for people seeking structured coursework and additional professional development.

Benefits:

  • State-specific real estate education
  • Licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development options

RealEstateU

RealEstateU focuses on online real estate education and provides courses for aspiring and current agents in multiple states. Its online format is designed for students who want to complete required coursework without attending a traditional classroom.

Benefits:

  • Online courses
  • Self-paced learning
  • State-specific licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education options

McKissock

McKissock is a well-established online education provider focused on continuing education for real estate professionals. It’s particularly relevant for licensed agents and brokers looking to complete required CE while also building knowledge in areas such as real estate business practices and professional development.

Benefits:

  • Online continuing education
  • State-specific courses
  • Flexible, self-paced learning
  • Courses for agents and brokers
  • Professional development resources

Allied Schools

Allied Schools provides online real estate education for students pursuing licensing and professionals continuing their education. Its online format makes it an option for people who want to complete coursework remotely and work education into an existing schedule.

Benefits:

  • Online coursework
  • Licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible learning

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing focuses specifically on education for professionals who want to build expertise in the luxury residential market. Its curriculum is designed around the unique marketing, client-service, and business-development considerations involved in luxury real estate.

Benefits:

  • Luxury real estate specialization
  • Professional development
  • Luxury market strategies
  • Networking opportunities
  • Specialized training for experienced agents

Florida has one of the largest real estate markets in the country, making real estate licensing and continuing education a popular search topic. These schools provide options for both new agents and existing Florida licensees.

Gold Coast Schools

Gold Coast Schools has been providing real estate education in Florida since 1970 and now serves students through campus, online, and livestream formats. In addition to real estate, the school provides education in areas such as appraisal, mortgage, insurance, CAM, and construction.

Benefits:

Long history in Florida
Multiple campus locations
Online courses
Livestream options
Pre-licensing and continuing education
Additional real estate-related professional education

VanEd

VanEd offers online real estate education and continuing education for professionals in multiple states, including Florida.

Benefits:

Online coursework
State-specific education
Continuing education
Flexible scheduling
Useful for agents who prefer remote learning

California has extensive pre-licensing requirements, so students should look for schools that clearly organize the required coursework and provide exam preparation.

California School of Real Estate

California School of Real Estate specializes in California real estate education. Its state-focused approach can help students find coursework tailored to California’s licensing process.

Benefits:

  • California-specific education
  • Pre-licensing coursework
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Focused on California licensing requirements

AYPO Real Estate

AYPO Real Estate offers online real estate education for students seeking to complete Oregon licensing coursework remotely.

Benefits:

  • Online learning
  • Oregon-specific courses
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Licensing education
  • Continuing education options

Superior Schools

Superior Schools provides real estate education for Oregon professionals, including licensing and continuing education.

Benefits:

  • Oregon-focused coursework
  • Licensing education
  • Continuing education
  • Online learning options
  • Designed around state requirements

NYREI

New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI) has operated since 1987 and offers courses in salesperson, broker, continuing education, and professional development. Students can choose classroom, livestream, or self-paced online formats, and the school also provides job placement assistance.

Benefits:

  • Classroom, livestream, and online options
  • 77-hour salesperson licensing course
  • Broker education
  • Continuing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Job-placement assistance
  • Courses available in English and Spanish

NJ Real Estate Institute

NJ Real Estate Institute provides New Jersey real estate education for students pursuing licensure and professionals completing additional education.

Benefits:

  • New Jersey-specific courses
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market focus

Center for Real Estate Education

The Center for Real Estate Education provides real estate education for New Jersey professionals.

Benefits:

  • State-specific training
  • Licensing education
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible course options
  • New Jersey-focused instruction

Garden State Real Estate Academy

Garden State Real Estate Academy is another New Jersey-focused option for aspiring agents looking for state-specific licensing education.

Benefits:

  • New Jersey-specific coursework
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Local instruction
  • Continuing education opportunities

Freedom Trail Realty School

Freedom Trail Realty School focuses on Massachusetts real estate education and provides online options for people pursuing their real estate license.

Benefits:

  • Online learning
  • Massachusetts-focused coursework
  • Licensing preparation
  • Exam resources
  • Flexible scheduling

New England Real Estate Academy

New England Real Estate Academy offers real estate education for Massachusetts students and professionals.

Benefits:

  • Massachusetts-specific education
  • Pre-licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development

Red Door Real Estate

Red Door Real Estate is another option for Massachusetts real estate education and professional development.

Benefits:

  • Local market perspective
  • Real estate education
  • Licensing support
  • Professional development
  • Continuing education opportunities

Texas requires substantial pre-licensing education, so students should pay particular attention to course structure, instructor support, and exam preparation.

Champions School of Real Estate

Champions School of Real Estate is one of the most established names in Texas real estate education. It provides education for real estate agents and brokers, as well as related fields such as mortgage, appraisal, and home inspection, with multiple Texas campus locations and online options.

Benefits:

  • Multiple Texas locations
  • Online and classroom options
  • Salesperson licensing
  • Broker education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Additional real estate-related professional programs

Pioneer School of Real Estate

Pioneer School of Real Estate provides real estate education in Texas for aspiring and current professionals.

Benefits:

  • Texas-specific coursework
  • Licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible learning options

Weichert Real Estate School

Weichert Real Estate School provides real estate education for students and professionals in the Mid-Atlantic, including Virginia and Maryland.

Benefits:

  • Regional market focus
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Support for aspiring agents

Cooke Real Estate School

Cooke Real Estate School is a Washington, D.C.-focused real estate education provider for individuals pursuing licensing and additional professional education.

Benefits:

  • D.C.-specific education
  • Licensing coursework
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market focus

Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is a useful educational and professional development resource for real estate professionals working in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

Benefits:

  • Regional education
  • Professional development
  • Continuing education opportunities
  • REALTOR® resources
  • Local market knowledge

Carolina School of Real Estate

Carolina School of Real Estate provides North Carolina real estate education for aspiring agents and current professionals.

Benefits:

  • North Carolina-specific coursework
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market instruction

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy offers North Carolina-focused real estate education and can be a useful option for students looking for a school with a regional market focus.

Benefits:

  • North Carolina-specific education
  • Licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Regional market perspective

Superior School of Real Estate

Superior School of Real Estate is a North Carolina-focused real estate education provider offering licensing and continuing education for real estate professionals. It is a useful option for aspiring agents seeking state-specific education and for licensed professionals who need additional coursework.

Benefits:

  • North Carolina-specific education
  • Pre-licensing courses
  • Continuing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Online and classroom options

Key Realty School

Key Realty School provides real estate education for Nevada professionals, including licensing and continuing education. It offers aspiring agents and existing licensees a state-specific option to complete their required education.

Benefits:

  • Nevada-specific education
  • Pre-licensing
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible course options

Georgia MLS Real Estate School

Georgia MLS Real Estate School provides Georgia-focused real estate education for aspiring and licensed professionals.

Benefits:

  • Georgia-specific education
  • Licensing coursework
  • Continuing education
  • Local market knowledge
  • Professional development

Georgia Academy of Real Estate

Georgia Academy of Real Estate offers education for Georgia students pursuing real estate licensing and professional development.

Benefits:

  • Georgia-specific courses
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible learning options

Barney Fletcher Schools

Barney Fletcher Schools provides real estate education for Georgia professionals, including licensing and continuing education.

Benefits:

  • Georgia-specific education
  • Licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development

Philadelphia Real Estate Classes

Philadelphia Real Estate Classes is a Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission-approved school offering pre-licensing courses in classroom and livestream formats. A notable differentiator is its included business coaching session covering lead generation, database management, team building, and production.

Benefits:

  • Pennsylvania-approved education
  • Classroom courses
  • Livestream courses
  • Day, evening, and weekend schedules
  • Exam preparation
  • Business coaching
  • Broker education

Arizona School of Real Estate & Business

Arizona School of Real Estate & Business is a well-known Arizona education provider serving people pursuing real estate careers and professionals seeking additional licensing and education.

Benefits:

  • Arizona-specific education
  • Pre-licensing
  • Exam preparation
  • Broker education
  • Continuing education
  • Multiple learning formats

Hogan School of Real Estate

Hogan School of Real Estate provides Arizona-focused education for aspiring and licensed real estate professionals. The school offers education aligned with Arizona’s licensing requirements, along with professional development and continuing education.

Benefits:

  • Arizona-specific coursework
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development

Colorado Real Estate School

Colorado Real Estate School provides Colorado-focused real estate education for aspiring and licensed professionals.

Benefits:

  • Colorado-specific coursework
  • Licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market focus

AREI

AREI provides real estate education for Colorado professionals looking for licensing and continuing education options.

Benefits:

  • Colorado-focused education
  • Online learning options
  • Licensing coursework
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible scheduling

Illinois School of Real Estate

Illinois School of Real Estate offers Illinois-focused education for people entering the real estate profession and current agents completing education requirements.

Benefits:

  • Illinois-specific coursework
  • Pre-licensing
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market focus

REALTORS® Real Estate School

REALTORS® Real Estate School provides education and professional-development resources for Illinois real estate professionals.

Benefits:

  • Illinois market education
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development
  • REALTOR® resources
  • Industry-specific training

Your House Real Estate Academy

Your House Real Estate Academy provides real estate education for aspiring and current agents in Illinois.

Benefits:

  • Illinois-specific courses
  • Licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Flexible learning options

Michigan Institute of Real Estate

Michigan Institute of Real Estate provides Michigan-focused education for aspiring agents and current licensees.

Benefits:

  • Michigan-specific coursework
  • Pre-licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Local market focus

Hondros College

Hondros College is a major Ohio real estate education provider offering pre-licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, continuing education, and broker education. Courses are available online, through livestream instruction, and in classrooms across Ohio.

Benefits:

  • More than 40 years of Ohio education experience
  • Classroom, livestream, and online options
  • Pre-licensing
  • Exam preparation
  • Post-licensing
  • Continuing education
  • Broker education
  • Multiple Ohio locations

Perry Real Estate College

Perry Real Estate College offers online real estate education for students who want a flexible alternative to traditional classroom instruction.

Benefits:

  • Online learning
  • Self-paced coursework
  • Licensing education
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education

Sinclair Community College

Sinclair Community College provides real estate education through its continuing education and professional development programs.

Benefits:

  • Community college environment
  • Professional education
  • Structured coursework
  • Continuing education opportunities
  • Access to broader academic resources

Rockwell Institute

Rockwell Institute is a Washington-focused real estate school offering education for people entering the industry as well as licensed professionals. Its programs are built around Washington’s real estate licensing and education requirements.

Benefits:

  • Washington-specific education
  • Pre-licensing courses
  • Exam preparation
  • Continuing education
  • Professional development

The “best” real estate school isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest name. Your ideal school depends on where you’re licensed, how you learn, and what you’re trying to accomplish.

If you’re becoming a real estate agent

Prioritize a school that offers state-approved pre-licensing education, exam preparation, and a clear path from coursework to your licensing exam.

If you already have your license

Look for schools offering state-approved continuing education, particularly courses that help you build skills beyond simply checking off your required hours.

If you work full-time while getting licensed

Online and livestream schools can give you more flexibility than a traditional classroom schedule. Providers such as Colibri Real Estate, Aceable Agent, The CE Shop and RealEstateU are worth comparing.

If you’re pursuing a broker license

Look beyond basic salesperson education. Compare schools based on whether they offer broker coursework, exam preparation, and education relevant to running or managing a brokerage.

If you’re looking for continuing education

Don’t automatically choose the cheapest CE course. Look for topics that can improve your actual business, including contracts, technology, negotiation, risk management, fair housing, property management, and business development.

Getting your real estate license is the beginning of your career, not the end of your education.

The real estate industry changes constantly. Regulations evolve, technology changes how agents work, clients expect faster communication, and new tools continue to reshape how properties are marketed and transactions are managed.

Continuing education helps agents stay current while also building practical skills they can use in their businesses. Education is only one part of becoming a more efficient real estate professional.

Once you’re licensed, the next challenge is often finding enough time actually to do the work that generates business.

For new agents, that can mean more time to focus on prospecting and building relationships. For experienced agents, it can mean creating a more flexible business without personally being at every property.

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