2026 Best Real Estate Schools in California
Real Estate degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 75 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best real estate schools.
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Best Schools for Real Estate in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall real estate education in California.
Top Schools in Real Estate
Our analysis ranked University Of San Diego the best school in the country for a degree in real estate. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 98 real estate degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $54,073. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the real estate program at University Of San Diego
Chapman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 real estate students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Real Estate graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
Read more about the real estate program at Chapman University
Pepperdine University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 13 real estate degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Real Estate graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $57,582 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
See the full real estate program report for Pepperdine University
San Diego Mesa College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in real estate, ranking #4. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 92% of students finish within six years. San Diego Mesa College awarded about 12 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $29,852 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in real estate from San Diego Mesa College
Cerritos College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. There were roughly 89 real estate students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their real estate degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,306.
See the full real estate program report for Cerritos College
Diablo Valley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 27 real estate degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
See the full real estate program report for Diablo Valley College
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #7 among the best real estate schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 39 real estate students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their real estate degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
Get the full real estate details for Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Barbara City College landed the #8 spot for real estate this year. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 16 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their real estate degree from Santa Barbara City College earn around $68,184 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans.
See the full real estate program report for Santa Barbara City College
Saddleback College landed the #9 spot for real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Saddleback College awarded about 109 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Real Estate graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Saddleback College graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans.
Read more about the real estate program at Saddleback College
Mt San Antonio College placed #10 among the best real estate schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. There were roughly 106 real estate students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $44,391 in their early career. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
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Santiago Canyon College earned the #11 position for real estate this year. This large public university is located in the city of Orange. Santiago Canyon College awarded about 57 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $34,100 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in real estate from Santiago Canyon College
Chabot College came in at #12 for real estate this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. There were roughly 71 real estate students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Typical student debt for the program is $14,122.
See the full real estate program report for Chabot College
Irvine Valley College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. This large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Irvine Valley College awarded about 128 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Irvine Valley College graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans.
More information about a degree in real estate from Irvine Valley College
De Anza College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 18 real estate students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
Read more about the real estate program at De Anza College
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. San Joaquin Delta College awarded about 57 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $65,168 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista placed #16 among the best real estate schools. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. About 63 real estate degrees were awarded at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent year. Real Estate graduates of Southwestern College Chula Vista earn a median of $49,358 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
Read more about the real estate program at Southwestern College Chula Vista
Modesto Junior College earned the #17 position for real estate this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Modesto. Modesto Junior College awarded about 49 real estate degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Typical student debt for the program is $8,575.
More information about a degree in real estate from Modesto Junior College
Long Beach City College came in at #18 for real estate this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. About 48 real estate degrees were awarded at Long Beach City College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in real estate from Long Beach City College
El Camino Community College District earned the #19 position for real estate this year. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. About 37 real estate degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year.
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Riverside City College landed the #20 spot for real estate this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. About 48 real estate degrees were awarded at Riverside City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $37,102 in their early career. Riverside City College graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans.
More information about a degree in real estate from Riverside City College
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca placed #21 among the best real estate schools. Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public school located in the city of Glendale. About 65 real estate degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Ca in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete this degree.
See the full real estate program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Ca
Citrus College earned the #22 position for real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. Citrus College awarded about 78 real estate degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in real estate from Citrus College
Chaffey College landed the #23 spot for real estate this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. About 48 real estate degrees were awarded at Chaffey College in the most recent year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $23,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,952.
See the full real estate program report for Chaffey College
Los Angeles Valley College earned the #24 position for real estate this year. Set in the city of Valley Glen, Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public institution. About 52 real estate degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the real estate program make about $81,600 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,254 to complete this degree.
See the full real estate program report for Los Angeles Valley College
Palomar College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best real estate schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Palomar College awarded about 16 real estate degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in real estate from Palomar College
Rest of the Top 42 Real Estate Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s real estate ranking:
More Real Estate Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 75 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
