by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 213 U.S. colleges awarded 8,560 degrees and certificates in Real Estate. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 137 schools in its 2027 Best Real Estate Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $71,651 one year after completing, rising to $96,548 after four years.
Many 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.
A degree in Real Estate explores Real Estate.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, real estate is a widely-pursued major, with 8,560 degrees awarded annually. 213 colleges award real estate degrees, an average of 40 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 327.
By level, the 8,560 awards include 169 certificates, 689 associate degrees, 2,189 bachelor’s degrees and 4,694 master’s degrees.
Women earned 49% of real estate degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,202 of 8,560). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,661) and Hispanic or Latino (2,379), and international students earned 315.
College Factual ranks 137 schools in its 2027 Best Real Estate Schools ranking, including 24 for associate degrees, 34 for bachelor’s degrees and 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks real estate schools within 22 states. In all, 213 colleges offer real estate programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Real Estate Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common real estate credential is the master’s degree: 4,694 of the 8,560 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to real estate call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Sales and Marketing, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
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.
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How long a real estate degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 169 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 689 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,189 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,694 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to real estate, at 32.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 17.0% |
| Some college courses | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.1% |
| First professional degree | 5.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.5% |
| Master’s degree | 3.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Real Estate, with an average median salary of $67,588; the strongest outlook belongs to Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Real Estate Sales Associate, Leasing Professional, Realtor and Real Estate Closer.
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.
The occupation related to real estate with the most projected jobs is Real Estate Brokers, at 1,031,675.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Brokers | 1,031,675 | 5.1% |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | 904,074 | -3.0% |
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate | 575,561 | 13.0% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 261,248 | 0.4% |
Real Estate graduates earn a median $71,651 one year after completing their program, $96,548 after four years and $105,222 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $71,651 |
| 4 years | $96,548 |
| 5 years | $105,222 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to real estate is Appraisers of Personal and Business Property, with a median salary of $118,242.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,609 |
| Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate | $61,167 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $44,773 |
| Real Estate Brokers | $36,148 |
Real Estate includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Real Estate (8,560). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 875,589 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Real Estate | 8,560 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
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