by our College Data Analytics Team
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong real estate education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 82 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value real estate schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the real estate degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is San Diego Mesa College, our #1 best value for real estate in the Far Western Region. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in real estate will find it at Cerritos College, which ranked #2. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Irvine Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in real estate, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the real estate program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Saddleback College one of the best values for real estate. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in real estate will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #5. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Santiago Canyon College earned the #6 position for value in real estate this year. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,203 to complete the real estate program here. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College came in at #8 for value in real estate this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Victor Valley College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chabot College came in at #10 for value in real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College placed #11 among the best values for real estate. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $8,767. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
De Anza College landed the #12 spot for real estate value this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. Students from in state pay about $1,571 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,596 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $7,271 in student loans. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Set against $7,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College landed the #13 spot for real estate value this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $9,024. Real Estate graduates of Merced College earn a median of $45,032 early in their careers. Set against $9,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College placed #14 among the best values for real estate. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $14,105. Real Estate graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cosumnes River College placed #15 among the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from Cosumnes River College generally make around $19,699. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Long Beach City College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #17 for value in real estate this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $14,692. Real Estate graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
El Camino Community College District earned the #18 position for value in real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,144, while out-of-state students pay about $7,630. Median earnings reach $41,589 ten years out.
Diablo Valley College came in at #19 for value in real estate this year. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College came in at #20 for value in real estate this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $1,354 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
Chaffey College earned the #21 position for value in real estate this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. Students from in state pay about $1,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Real Estate graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #22 spot for real estate value this year. Set in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $37,488. That is a strong return on a $8,770 median debt.
Truckee Meadows Community College placed #23 among the best values for real estate. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $3,352, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Real Estate graduates carry a median of $12,290 in student loans. Early-career real estate graduates make about $52,785. Set against $12,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Los Angeles College came in at #24 for value in real estate this year. Set in the suburb of Culver City, West Los Angeles College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Real Estate graduates of West Los Angeles College earn a median of $65,978 early in their careers.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #25 for value in real estate this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the real estate program here. Real Estate graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s real estate value ranking:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 82 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.