[Real Estate Development](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/real-estate-development/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for real estate development students.
Finding the Best Value Real Estate Development School for You
The right real estate development school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Real Estate Development Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Real Estate Development Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for real estate development in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Real Estate Development graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Real Estate Development graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate development, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Real Estate Development graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate development degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate development schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete the real estate development program here. Soon after graduation, real estate development degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $58,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place for real estate development. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate development graduates is $21,842. Real Estate Development graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $74,032 early in their careers. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate development schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Real Estate Development graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Real Estate Development graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for value in real estate development this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the real estate development program here. Soon after graduation, real estate development degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $142,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate development schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the real estate development program here. Soon after graduation, real estate development degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $68,347. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #8 spot for real estate development value this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the real estate development program here. Early-career real estate development graduates make about $102,555. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #9 position for value in real estate development this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the real estate development program here. Early-career real estate development graduates make about $98,116. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for value in real estate development this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Real Estate Development graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Real Estate Development graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $84,945 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate development schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,678 in tuition and fees. Real Estate Development graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate development degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $53,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
Fordham University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate development schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Typical student debt for real estate development graduates is $25,643. Real Estate Development graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,643 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Real Estate Development](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/real-estate-development/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
