by our College Data Analytics Team
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for real estate students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the real estate degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of The Canyons earned the #1 spot for value among real estate schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $9,776. Early-career real estate graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #2 spot this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $5,707. Early-career real estate graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #4 spot this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $17,063 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $34,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Chaffey College one of the best values for real estate. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $6,952. Real Estate graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Modesto Junior College landed the #6 spot for real estate value this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
Victor Valley College landed the #7 spot for real estate value this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $37,755. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District came in at #8 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $15,003. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
San Diego Mesa College placed #10 among the best values for real estate. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
De Anza College placed #11 among the best values for real estate. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, compared with $12,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the real estate program here. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District landed the #12 spot for real estate value this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $9,500. Real Estate graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $36,939 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
San Antonio College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. That is a strong return on a $11,839 median debt.
El Camino Community College District ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, while out-of-state students pay about $7,630. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,589 ten years after entry.
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #15 for value in real estate this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Students from in state pay about $4,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $35,850 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,980 median debt.
Houston Community College earned the #16 position for value in real estate this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $27,140 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,140 median debt.
Fullerton College came in at #17 for value in real estate this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,366 ten years after entry.
El Paso Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value real estate schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $8,542. Real Estate graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #19 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Public University System landed the #20 spot for real estate value this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $23,765. Early-career real estate graduates make about $43,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mendocino College came in at #21 for value in real estate this year. Mendocino College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Ukiah. In-state tuition and fees average $1,423, with out-of-state students paying around $10,003. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Mendocino College generally make around $81,203. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
West Los Angeles College came in at #22 for value in real estate this year. West Los Angeles College is a large public school located in the suburb of Culver City. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from West Los Angeles College generally make around $65,978.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #23 position for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #24 for value in real estate this year. Located in the city of Valley Glen, Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $10,254 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Los Angeles Valley College earn a median of $81,600 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Real Estate rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.