Best Schools for Real Estate

Real Estate graduates earn a median of $86,227 within four years of graduating, ranking #72 out of 283 tracked majors — 38% above the median across all fields. There are 26 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 729 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Southern California graduates earn $143,977 while San Diego State University graduates earn $50,662 — a $93,315 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Real Estate graduates see an average 6% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$86,227

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#72

of 283 Majors

729

Graduates

Public vs Private: Real Estate

Public (16 schools)

$75,825

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (10 schools)

$106,622

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $30,797 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

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$131,911

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

2yr: $71,351 (29)

1yr: $70,782 (29)

Acceptance: 25.1%

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$130,716

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $60,021 (22)

Acceptance: 9.4%

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$103,547

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

2yr: $63,005 (17)

1yr: $59,869 (28)

Acceptance: 42.6%

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private

$99,583

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $52,107 (27)

Acceptance: 87.4%

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

$94,027

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

2yr: $55,964 (12)

1yr: $51,139 (22)

Acceptance: 51.0%

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$90,764

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

1yr: $53,802 (23)

Acceptance: 41.7%

#11

University of Denver

Denver, CO · Private

$87,026

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

1yr: $53,339 (22)

Acceptance: 71.2%

#12

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

$84,558

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 61.5%

#13

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$71,473

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$65,650

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $38,337 (16)

Acceptance: 82.9%

#20

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX · Public

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA · Public

$62,120

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public

$60,718

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

2yr: $48,432 (22)

Acceptance: 93.1%

#23

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$57,174

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$50,662

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 34.4%

#25

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY · Public

Majors with Similar Earnings

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods $52,849 Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians $52,669 Science, Technology and Society $52,496 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering $52,237 Educational/Instructional Media Design $52,099 Finance and Financial Management Services $50,463

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Real Estate?

University of Southern California ranks #1 for Real Estate with median graduate earnings of $143,977 within four years of graduating. There are 26 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Real Estate graduates earn?

Real Estate graduates earn an average of $86,227 within four years of graduating. This is 38% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $50,662 to $143,977 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 55.6%. The most selective program is at New York University with a 9.4% 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 $106,622 in early earnings vs $75,825 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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