Real Estate
Offered at 317 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 128 | $44,407 | $45,096 | $17,806 |
| Associate | 79 | — | — | $16,439 |
| Bachelor's | 56 | $61,645 | $89,083 | $20,500 |
| Master's | 32 | $100,594 | $134,001 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 22 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $44,407, versus $61,645 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saddleback College | CA | $82,543 | — | — |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $74,053 | — | $22,247 |
| 3 | American Public University System | WV | $62,489 | — | — |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | WI | $58,806 | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | Sinclair Community College | OH | $40,636 | $58,141 | $12,914 |
| 6 | Palm Beach State College | FL | $44,442 | $54,532 | $11,121 |
| 7 | Columbus State Community College | OH | $48,480 | — | $16,573 |
| 8 | Dallas College | TX | $35,104 | $45,096 | $15,250 |
| 9 | Colorado Mountain College | CO | $44,407 | — | — |
| 10 | Tarrant County College District | TX | — | $44,405 | — |
| 11 | Ogden-Weber Technical College | UT | $43,165 | — | $10,640 |
| 12 | McLennan Community College | TX | $32,378 | $40,043 | $7,186 |
| 13 | Austin Community College District | TX | $35,652 | — | $13,710 |
| 14 | Lorain County Community College | OH | $19,857 | — | $21,124 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinclair Community College | OH | — | $67,211 | — |
| 2 | American Public University System | WV | $31,684 | — | $15,542 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | CA | $92,528 | $169,687 | — |
| 2 | Villanova University | PA | $86,945 | $155,602 | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $75,375 | $139,874 | $15,000 |
| 4 | Marquette University | WI | $73,121 | $123,132 | $22,124 |
| 5 | Syracuse University | NY | $75,378 | $107,740 | $20,500 |
| 6 | Texas Christian University | TX | $60,524 | $104,747 | $22,999 |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $68,467 | $100,157 | $20,500 |
| 8 | University of Georgia | GA | $67,501 | $99,705 | $17,500 |
| 9 | DePaul University | IL | $65,010 | $98,926 | — |
| 10 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | SC | $63,254 | $97,102 | $20,500 |
| 11 | University of Denver | CO | $69,410 | $94,144 | — |
| 12 | University of San Diego | CA | $65,952 | $93,920 | $20,000 |
| 13 | New York University | NY | $88,970 | $89,083 | $17,875 |
| 14 | University of Northern Iowa | IA | $64,646 | $86,150 | $21,500 |
| 15 | Florida State University | FL | $59,785 | $85,259 | $12,375 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | NY | $131,419 | $171,389 | — |
| 2 | Southern Methodist University | TX | — | $168,839 | — |
| 3 | University of Florida | FL | $97,555 | $168,686 | — |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | — | $168,207 | — |
| 5 | Georgetown University | DC | $123,382 | $153,686 | — |
| 6 | Cornell University | NY | $144,319 | — | — |
| 7 | DePaul University | IL | — | $142,432 | — |
| 8 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $95,753 | $134,001 | — |
| 9 | Portland State University | OR | $90,275 | $124,006 | — |
| 10 | University of Denver | CO | $100,594 | $112,919 | — |
| 11 | University of Utah | UT | $110,480 | $112,774 | — |
| 12 | Fordham University | NY | $111,699 | — | — |
| 13 | Nova Southeastern University | FL | — | $100,607 | — |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $97,995 | — | — |
| 15 | Roosevelt University | IL | — | $91,111 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do real estate graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in real estate reports median earnings of $61,645. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
