Real Estate Colleges Under $20,000

Real estate education costs vary dramatically across the nation, with CUNY Bernard M Baruch College offering the lowest net price at just $2,978 while most programs cluster between $8,000-$12,000. The earnings gap proves equally telling, as Florida State graduates average $49,588 compared to Cal State Northridge alumni at $28,366. Public universities dominate affordable real estate education, though acceptance rates span from Florida State's selective 25% to Cal State Fresno's open 95%. The commercial real estate sector continues expanding nationwide, with major markets like Miami, Las Vegas, and San Antonio creating strong regional job networks that directly benefit local university graduates. California leads with four programs under $8,000, while Florida contributes three schools with graduation rates exceeding 64%. North Seattle College stands out with the lowest graduation rate at 32%, contrasting sharply with Florida State's 83% completion rate.

Programs

$2,978 – $19,518

Net Price Range

$47,735

Avg. Program Earnings

60.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

41 Real Estate Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
2	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
3	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
4	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
5	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
6	North Seattle College Seattle, Washington	$8,351	$5,058	32.4%
7	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
8	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro San Juan, Puerto Rico	$8,964	$5,580	31.6%	46.8%
9	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$9,133	$6,565	73.9%	63.9%
10	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
11	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
12	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$10,997	$5,656	83.0%	25.0%
13	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
14	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
15	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	$12,791	$8,370	47.5%	85.9%
16	Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas	$12,915	$8,319	40.7%	79.1%
17	Portland State University Portland, Oregon	$12,932	$11,238	53.1%	93.1%
18	University of Mississippi University, Mississippi	$13,164	$9,412	68.5%	97.4%
19	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
20	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
21	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059	$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
22	University of North Texas Denton, Texas	$14,352	$11,164	59.6%	79.1%
23	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
24	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, Minnesota	$14,485	$10,117	46.9%	95.3%
25	University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa	$14,609	$9,728	68.9%	95.0%
26	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
27	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$15,235	$11,728	56.5%	80.8%
28	University of West Georgia Carrollton, Georgia	$15,450	$5,971	42.7%	80.1%
29	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$15,590	$11,505	88.6%	44.6%
30	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
31	Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia	$15,931	$8,478	53.7%	66.8%
32	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan	$16,041	$14,190	61.8%	79.0%
33	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
34	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$16,177	$10,020	51.2%	86.3%
35	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928	$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
36	Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan	$17,185	$29,778	51.1%	65.0%
37	University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin	$17,365	$10,142	52.5%	86.3%
38	University of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland	$17,546	$9,772	46.7%	89.3%
39	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
40	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia	$19,452	$16,458	65.4%	91.0%
41	College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina	$19,518	$12,978	65.0%	75.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Baruch's real estate program so affordable compared to other schools?

CUNY Baruch offers the nation's lowest net price at $2,978, nearly $3,000 less than the next cheapest option. The school maintains a 72% graduation rate while serving the New York real estate market. Its public funding model and urban location keep costs minimal for students. The program accepts roughly half of applicants, maintaining selectivity without premium pricing.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in real estate education?

Higher-priced programs generally show better completion rates, with Florida State at $10,997 achieving 83% graduation compared to North Seattle's $8,351 program at 32%. University of Central Florida combines a moderate $10,650 cost with a strong 75% graduation rate. The data suggests that programs between $10,000-$12,000 often provide better student support systems. However, Florida International breaks this pattern with a $9,133 cost and impressive 73% graduation rate.

Is there a significant earnings difference between graduates from different regions?

Regional earnings vary substantially, with Florida State graduates earning $49,588 annually compared to Cal State Northridge alumni at $28,366. Texas graduates from UT San Antonio average $48,432, reflecting strong regional real estate markets. The $21,000 earnings gap between highest and lowest demonstrates how local job markets influence graduate outcomes. Baruch graduates in New York earn $34,704, falling in the middle range despite the program's low cost.

Does acceptance rate indicate program quality in affordable real estate education?

Acceptance rates range from Florida State's selective 25% to Cal State Fresno's open 95%, yet both produce working real estate professionals. More selective programs like Florida State and UCF show higher graduation rates above 75%. However, Baruch maintains solid outcomes with a moderate 49% acceptance rate and strong job market access. The relationship between selectivity and success varies significantly across different regional markets and institutional approaches.

Where do the most affordable real estate programs cluster geographically?

California dominates low-cost options with four programs under $8,000, including Cal State Fresno at $6,480 and Northridge at $7,599. Florida contributes three programs, though these cost slightly more while offering higher graduation rates. The Northeast offers only Baruch as a budget option, but it's the cheapest nationally. Western and Southwestern states provide the most affordable choices for students seeking real estate education under $20,000.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.