Best Schools for Real Estate

Real Estate graduates earn a median of $51,042 within two years of graduation, ranking #71 out of 292 tracked majors — 44% above the median across all fields. There are 20 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 641 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn $73,949 while California State University-Northridge graduates earn $28,366 — a $45,583 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Real Estate graduates see an average 5% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

20
Schools
$51,042
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#71
of 292 Majors
641
Graduates

Public vs Private: Real Estate

Public (12 schools)
$46,952
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (7 schools)
$59,672
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $12,720 more in early earnings on average for Real Estate graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Real Estate by State

Top Real Estate Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$73,949
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,730
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 43.4%
#2
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$71,643
2yr Earnings
1yr: $75,665
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 10.0%
#3
V

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$71,351
2yr Earnings
1yr: $70,782
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 25.1%
#4
U

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$63,005
2yr Earnings
1yr: $58,970
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 46.8%
#5
T

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$63,005
2yr Earnings
1yr: $59,869
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 42.6%
#6
B

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

$55,964
2yr Earnings
1yr: $51,139
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 51.0%
#7
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$53,775
2yr Earnings
1yr: $55,093
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 50.8%
#8
U

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$52,941
2yr Earnings
1yr: $52,848
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 37.2%
#9
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,823
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 72.5%
#10
M

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.4%
#11
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$49,588
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,748
Grads: 110
Acceptance: 25.4%
#12
T

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX · Public

$48,432
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,279
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 88.5%
#13
V

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public

$48,432
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 93.1%
#14
U

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$45,221
2yr Earnings
1yr: $51,372
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 94.4%
#15
D

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$40,626
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.5%
#16
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,566
Grads: 58
Acceptance: N/A
#17
T

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$38,337
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 82.9%
#18
G

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,143
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 62.3%
#19
C

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY · Public

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,178
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 50.5%
#20
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$28,366
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,547
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 93.2%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Real Estate?
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks #1 for Real Estate with median graduate earnings of $73,949 within two years. There are 20 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Real Estate graduates earn?
Real Estate graduates earn an average of $51,042 within two years of graduation. This is 44% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $28,366 to $73,949 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Real Estate program?
The average acceptance rate across Real Estate programs is 59.5%. The most selective program is at University of Southern California with a 10.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Real Estate?
Private Real Estate programs average $59,672 in early earnings vs $46,952 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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