Best Real Estate Schools in Colorado

Nationwide, real estate is booming. In Colorado, home prices continue to climb. In Denver, many properties are even selling for the above list price. Luckily, the scarcity of properties for sale appears to be abating as more listings become available, giving buyers renewed hope for their dream home. 

The recent success of real estate has convinced many people seeking a successful career path to get their real estate license in Colorado. The lure of making a sizable paycheck from home sales is undeniable. With a sound education base, the dream of being a realtor is attainable and holds the promise of job security and a lucrative living. 

If you’re looking to get in on this, it’s important to know that a successful career path starts with your real estate education. That’s why getting inside knowledge from industry experts is crucial when deciding where to start. In fact, making the right choice for your real estate school is one of the most important choices a new agent can make!

Our in-house real estate experts spent hundreds of hours researching, scoring, and ranking the top Colorado real estate schools.  Our experts also took into account the ratings and reviews from thousands of Agent Advice agents who have taken the courses themselves. 

We’ve ranked and rated each school on 8 different factors to come up with the very best real estate schools in Colorado. The top factors considered are: 

1. Course value
2. How easy the courses were to navigate
3. If there were any technical glitches
4. Return policies
5. Overall performance of each school as a whole
6. Reviews directly from agents who’ve attended the school

There are dozens of options (some of them not so great!), so we’ve taken the work off your plate by narrowing down the list to only the ones that scored high enough. Whether you’re dedicating yourself full time to your new career, are looking to fly through the courses quickly to get them over with, or are busy and looking to work through them when you have downtime, here is a list of the best online real estate schools in Colorado you should consider.

1. The CE Shop
2. Real Estate Express
3. AceableAgent
4. Colorado Real Estate School
5. Kaplan
6. VanEd

The CE Shop

Editor’s Score: A+

The CE Shop stands out as a leader in real estate schools. One of the most popular is accredited by The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). The school offers several educational opportunities via online classes. They have an interactive-based study approach that most students thrive using. 

With educational opportunities to meet all career levels, CE Shop meets the needs of everything from pre-licensing to exam preparation to post-licensing and other educational opportunities. The continuing education opportunities are boundless. 

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What is included in the study packages? 

Choose from four study packages provided by The CE Shop

• Courses Only
• Standard Package
• Value Package
• Premium Package

With each package, you receive the following:

• Six 30-hour Colorado courses
• Free online tutoring
• Study materials such as career resources, eBooks, study schedules, webinars, and digital flashcards.

All courses are delivered online in a primary text fashion which is easy to follow for most students. 

What are the payment options for Colorado real estate classes? 

The CE Shop accepts debit cards, credit cards (MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Visa). They do not take checks, cash, or gift cards. You can immediately start your real estate courses after purchase. There is no wait involved. You will be given access to the courses directly online. 

You can purchase only the courses you need or look into buying a package. Remember, you are never under any obligation to buy courses that you do not need. 

What is the pass rate in Colorado? 

Below is a screenshot of the national pass rate for CE Shop. Their pass rate is one of the highest in the nation, so it is considered a top-ranking real estate school. The pass rate stands at 75 percent for the first attempt, 12 percent for the second attempt, and 4 percent for the third. 

What are the best parts of The CE Shop?  

The CE Shop offers multiple pre-licensing course packages that span a diverse range of real estate topics. Once you finalize your purchase, you gain access to the course for one year. Without a doubt, the sheer scope of the course topics and the affordable price all make The CE Shop one of the highest-ranking real-estate schools available. 

An additional perk of The CE Shop is that they have a nice balance of study methods so students can efficiently process material for tremendous success. 

What are the worst parts of the CE Shop?

Some students have made complaints about the prep exam’s board questions. Their chief complaint involves the wording, which they feel is too complex, causing them to lose focus of the details. The added work of deciphering the hard-to-understand questions makes it difficult to focus on the other segments of the licensing exam. 

Many have voiced their displeasure with the fact that all courses are strictly online. Many people feel that they study better in a real-life classroom with access to a face-to-face instructor. However, with the affordable nature of The CE Shop, no in-person classes are not unusual. 

Rating and Reviews

As one of the most popular real estate courses in Colorado, the CE Shop is highly favored. They provide interactive material and an attractive price point. The only complaints that stand out were a few students who complained about the course’s comprehensive level. 

Some students expressed displeasure with the math section. They felt that the course did not cover very much information about real estate taxes.  

Many students left positive reviews covering their enjoyment of the format and structure of the course sections. They also said it was very easy to set their own individual pace and take natural breaks, which are provided with the material. 

Want to learn more about the CE Shop? Check out more here. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

At The CE Shop, you can choose between either: the Value Package or the Premium Package.  Both packages feature the Pass Guarantee, which states that if a student fails the exam on their first try, they can receive a reimbursement of the cost of the initial licensing exam.

The CE Shop Pros	The CE Shop Cons
Carry out the courses at your own pace, so you don’t feel overly pressured	System often has technical issues
Knowledgeable instructors who are willing to work closely with students	Customer service is less than perfect
Well-designed courses that offer an interesting spin on the classwork	State portion of course is outdated

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Real Estate Express

Editor’s Score: A+

Real Estate Express in Colorado has helped over half a mission students on their career journey towards becoming a real estate agent or broker. The educational program features 47 leading instructors. The school has been in business for over 25 years and provides online study courses 24/7. Students enjoy Livestream and self-paced courses.  Instructor support is available seven days a week. 

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What is included in the study packages? 

Choose from online and live stream courses with Real Estate Express. You’ll find various packages to fit your particular needs. 

With the Basics Package: 

• 168-Hour Pre-License Courses
• State Approved Instructor Support
• Three Real Estate eBooks

With the Exam Preparation: 

• 168-Hour Pre-License Courses
• State Approved Instructor Support
• Three Real Estate eBooks
• Exam Prep
• Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee

With the Exam Preparation Plus:

• 168-Hour Pre-License Courses
• State Approved Instructor Support
• Three Real Estate eBooks
• Exam Prep
• Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
• Real Estate Dictionary (contains all of the words of the trade so you can become familiar with the terminology) 
• Instructor Q&A
• Live Exam Crammer Series

With the Ultimate Learning: 

• 168-Hour Pre-License Courses
• State Approved Instructor Support When You Need It 
• Three Real Estate eBooks
• Exam Prep 
• Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
• 90-day Boot Camp
• Real Estate Dictionary (learn the terms of the trade) 
• Instructor Q&A
• NEW ITEM: Live Exam Crammer Series
• Printed Course Textbook (which you can keep at the end of the course) 
• One Year Professional Development Membership

For additional learning opportunities, you can also pick from two Livestream courses. 

What is the pass rate in Colorado? 

The Real Estate Express in Colorado appears to have a pass rate that hovers around 78 percent, but they are not very forthcoming with the information on their website. 

What are the best parts of Real Estate Express? 

With four packages to pick between, most students can easily find a real estate education course to fit their particular needs. You can complete the courses at your own pace. With two of the packages, you have live access to instructors to ask questions. You can also interact with your fellow real estate classmates to discuss questions or other issues. 

What are the worst parts of Real Estate Express? 

The Livestream training sessions are top-rated, but they are always scheduled for the same time every week. Students cannot watch them later because they are never recorded. If someone has a prior engagement or a job and cannot make the Livestream, they simply miss out. Most of the Livestream sessions are set up like a question and answer arena, so much of the information is not helpful to everyone attending the event. 

Ratings and Reviews 

Many students feel that the courses are extra challenging. The lack of practice exams appears to make it more difficult for students to pass. The information is often not presented engagingly and instead consists of introductory text slides that can take hours to read through. Also, the quiz questions do not always match the coursework, leading to confusion and making things difficult. 

Overall,  even with the problematic coursework, most students did express satisfaction with the educational classes. 

Want to learn more about the Real Estate Express in Colorado? Check out more here. 

Return policy/cancellation policy 

On some of their packages, they offer a pass or don’t pay clause, which means that if you do not pass your exam, you receive your money back. However, the introductory course package does not provide a pass or pay not policy cancellation. 

Real Estate Express Pros	Real Estate Express Cons
Ebooks are included with all courses	Courses are tedious and difficult for many
Return policy offered on some of the class packages	Livestreams are not recorded for later viewing
Lots of guides and practice tests	Can be glitchy

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AceableAgent

Editor’s Score: B+

When it comes to Colorado real estate education providers, AceableAgent is the new kid on the block. They are accredited by The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and The International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC).  

The educational program is also listed on the Colorado REALTORS website as a preferred pre-license and continuing education provider in Colorado. Whether you are just starting in real estate or an old pro looking to expand their academic knowledge base, you are sure to find a real estate education course with AceableAgent to fit your needs. 

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What is included in the study packages?

With the Pre-licensing Get Started Package, you will receive the following:

• 168 hours of pre-license courses
• Student support
• Success tools such as the Ace the Test Guarantee and the Pre-License Mobile App 

What is the pass rate in Colorado?

The national average pass rate holds at only 61.28 percent, but AceableAgent’s offers an awe-inspiring 94 percent pass rate in Colorado. Without a doubt, this is one of the best pass rates for any real estate school in Colorado, which makes it stand out from other similar programs. 

The pass rate makes online real estate school one of the top real estate education programs in Colorado. Without a doubt, it has one of the highest pass rates of any real estate school in the United States. 

What are the best parts of AceableAgent?

AceableAgent’s courses have been designed by experienced and highly respected real estate professionals. Each of the courses has been endorsed by Chris Heller, CEO of Mello Home, former CEO of Keller Williams, and respected member of the Agent Advice Editorial Board. 

Many consider the fact that AceableAgent gives students the ability to study wherever and whenever they want. Freedom is an undeniable perk if a student only takes the courses part-time while working or has a busy family life. The ability to take the courses or night on a student’s schedule is ideal for most. 

Students regularly voice their pleasure in the study videos, which are all segmented into short and very easy-to-understand sections that let them process the material rapidly.  They can easily pause the video to take notes, hit rewind to rehash a segment or fast forward across information that they might already know. As they progress through the course, they can also go back to particular videos for a refresher. 

What are the worst parts of AceableAgent?

Negative reviews are rare for AceableAgent. The only significant problem stated is that the course is only open for six months which is often too short to complete all segments and exams. Many students have to cram and work hard to complete the course in a short time span or face being kicked out of the education program. 

Ratings and Reviews 

Students have both positive and negative impressions of AceableAgent. A few have complained that the practice exams have mismatched questions when compared with the final exam.  

Many felt that the accessibility of the online courses via phone, computer, and tablet were a definite perk making the courses stand apart. 

One problem that existed was the outsourcing proctoring source which many found unpleasant and challenging. 

Want to learn more about AceableAgent? Check out more here.

Return policy/cancellation policy

A full refund backs all AceableAgent courses if the student makes a request within 30 days of purchase. Also, refunds are offered if a student fails to complete all course levels, even if they have taken the final exam.

There is a full refund for the course if the student cancels the enrollment at any point before midnight on the thirtieth day after the student signs the enrollment contract. However, the refund is null and void if they have completed the course or failed the course examination. Basically, with the return policy, there is only a small window when you can ask for a refund, and you’ll need to make sure you qualify with the required criteria. 

AceableAgent Pros	AceableAgent Cons
An impressive pass rate	Six-month course, which might be too short for someone who cannot dedicate full time to studying
Real estate professionals construct all courses	Not as many course options as other schools
Generous return/cancellation policy	Newest online option in Colorado

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Colorado Real Estate School

Editor’s Score: B

The Colorado Real Estate School was created as a home-based real estate education option by Jon Farnlof. He brought more than twenty years of experience in the industry to the table, along with an additional thirty years of experience as an educator. 

All of the Colorado Real Estate School faculty are licensed and experienced agents considered knowledgeable experts in the field. The Colorado Department of Higher Education fully accredits the online real estate school, Division of Private Occupational Schools. 

What is included in the study packages?

The study package is a 168-hour licensing course that is designed to meet the needs of students who have no previous experience. The course is carried out entirely online. They can be tailored to fit the student’s schedule. Each student works at their own pace. 

All of the classes are recorded by a real estate instructor and then streamed as a video presentation. The student can start to stop the class whenever needed. 

Choose from three-course packages: standard, enhanced and deluxe.

Standard course package provides:

• Access to the course for six months
• Email and webinar support
• Full course access
• Real estate textbook (online) 
• Optional Live Webinar – Colorado Exam Cram Workshop $39

Enhanced course package provides: 

• Access to the course for eight months
• Email and webinar support
• Full course access
• Real estate textbook (online) 
• Optional Live Webinar – Colorado Exam Cram Workshop $29
• The Insider’s Ultimate Assessment & Prep Tool for Passing the State Exam

Deluxe course package provides: 

• Access to the course for eight months
• Email and webinar support
• Full course access
• Real estate textbook (online)
• Optional Live Webinar – Colorado Exam Cram Workshop – included 
• The Insider’s Ultimate Assessment & Prep Tool for Passing the State Exam
• Pass incentive – If a student passes the State License Exam on their first try within four months of enrollment, then they will receive a full refund for the State Exam fee of $44.95.  

What is the pass rate in Colorado?

Unlike other schools, the Colorado Real Estate School does not post its pass rate. Instead, they spend a brief amount of time answering a question concerning it in their FAQ section on their website. They state that they have a ‘great pass rate.’  They do not feel they have to reveal their pass rate to prove they are a good school. They refer to pass rates as ‘questionable statistics.’ 

What are the best parts of the Colorado Real Estate School?

One of the best things about the Colorado Real Estate School is that they offer three packages with various perks to meet student’s educational and financial needs. The online courses have video streaming that students can start or halt at their leisure to meet their unique study needs. 

Students have the option of reading about their course material or learning via videos. Depending on a student’s learning preference, picking between old-school reading or modern videos is a huge perk. 

Their paid tuition is protected via a bond issued by State Farm Insurance, which provides financial peace of mind. 

What are the worst parts of the Colorado Real Estate School?

Lack of transparency over the passing scores is considered a problem by many. 

Rating and Reviews 

The majority of the students who attend the Colorado Real Estate School appear happy with the educational course. However, they do site the high expense of the three courses compared to other similar schools, which have lower tuition costs. 

Return policy/cancellation policy 

If, for any reason, you decide that you are not happy with the courses offered by the Colorado Real Estate School, then you can cancel within three days of purchase for a full refund.  

• Complete the first 10 percent of the program then you can request a refund that is 90 percent less of the amount. 
• Complete from 10 to 25 percent of the course, then you can request a 75 percent refund. Complete from 25 to 50 percent of the program can request a 50 percent refund. 
• Complete the 50 to 75 percent of the course can request a 25 percent refund. 
• Completes 75 percent or more of the course, then they are ineligible for a refund. 

A student can enact the cancellation policy and request a refund within thirty days, but they will not receive the $99. 

Colorado Real Estate School Pros	Colorado Real Estate School Cons
Choose from three online class packages	Does not provide their pass rates
Real estate industry professionals lead all courses	Course content is often outdated
Video or text course choices	Better online options available

Kaplan

Editor’s Score: B-

Kaplan has been offering real estate courses in the Colorado area for over 50 years. They provide real estate license courses, exam prep, and continuing education courses. 

Students can pick between OnDemand online courses, live classroom education courses, and classic textbook home study with flexible study methods. All of the real estate course delivery methods are designed to fit students’ needs. The Colorado Real Estate Commission approves all of the coursework used. 

With Kaplan both online video classes and live classrooms, students can pick whichever learning form fits their needs. Some students thrive with online video classes but others like the personal interaction of a live classroom.

Classrooms are located in many of Colorado’s metropolitan areas. However, if you do not live in a hub like Denver, you might not have the option of taking a live classroom course. You’ll need to confirm that the classes are held in our geographic locations. 

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What is included in the study packages?

The on-demand 168-hour study course includes the following:

• Learn real estate law and practice through interactive groups. Watch videos at your leisure whenever you want to study. You can also join in with faculty and students to discuss concerns or questions. 
• OnDemand exam prep lets you study whenever you want 
• All students also have access to a  career mentor live online to connect. 

Choose from online video on demand or live classroom courses.

Online Video OnDemand includes:

• Prerecorded courses (play, stop, rewind and review at your leisure) 
• Available 24/7 – you make your schedule. If you want to study in the wee hours of the night or during the afternoons, you can easily set your own schedule. 
• You are given six months to complete the course. 

Live Classroom includes: 

• Learn in a live atmosphere with your peers and experienced instructors
• Textbooks provided 
• Convenient in-person locations in Colorado metro areas. 
• Review all exam topics in a vibrant classroom environment where you can ask questions in real-time.

What is the pass rate in Colorado?

Kaplan does not appear to post their pass rate on the website.

What are the best parts of Kaplan?

One of the best things about Kaplan is that they provide online and in-person classes to meet each student’s particular ways. Many students thrive with in-person learning, and others prefer the flexibility of online classes.

The video courses which real estate professionals create are also an added perk. The student can watch the videos, pause, or rewind as needed to absorb the presented information. They can learn at their own pace.

What are the worst parts of Kaplan?

There is only limited access to text-based study material, which makes it difficult for some students who thrive on having an actual textbook on their hands to refer to when needed.

Ratings and Reviews

Kaplan in Colorado does score high reviews. The students express satisfaction with their classes. A couple of students have noted that they had a difficult time getting instructors to respond to their questions, but, for the most part, they noted satisfaction with both the online and in-person classes.

Want to learn more about the Kaplan Real Estate School in Colorado? Check out more here.

Return policy/cancellation policy

Students can receive a full tuition refund within thirty days of purchase if they have not completed the course. Shipping charges and other applicable fees are non-refundable. You may cancel your enrollment within thirty days of cancellation.

Kaplan Pros	Kaplan Cons
Leading real estate experts serve in course instructors	Subpar textbook access
Pick the learning option that works best for your particular needs	Non-mobile-friendly interface
Up to date materials	No phone-based support

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VanEd

Editor’s Score: C+

What is included? 

If you want to practice real estate, you need to take a pre-licensing course. This course will introduce you to real estate and give you everything you need to get started. There is an exam offered by the state that tests your knowledge on the fundamentals of real estate, real estate math, and more. You sit for this exam after completing the required pre-licensing course. The topics and requisite credit hours differ from state to state.

For instance, in Texas, Van Ed provides the required six courses, each with 30 credit hours, which add up to 180 hours as required by TREC. The topics covered in this course include the Law of Agency & Contracts, Principles of Real Estate, Finance, and more.

Real Estate Exam Prep

The real estate exam consists of multiple-choice questions. Sounds like a walk in the park? Well, it’s not. And the stats reveal that many students fail on their first try. That’s why every most real estate schools offer some form of exam preparation course.

VanEd is no different. For instance, they have a general real estate exam prep sold separately. But when you purchase their pre-licensing course, you get two free exam prep courses.

Continuing Education Courses

CE courses are necessary before renewing your license. The school offers CE courses in real estate in more states than they do for their pre-licensing course. Required hours differ from one state to another (select your state here to learn more about the CE requirements for your state). It depends on the state, but typically, renewals come every two years.

Additional Courses

Appraisal: The school doubles as an online appraisal school with wide coverage. They offer everything that you require to become an appraiser trainee. They also offer appraisal CE courses.

Mortgage broker: They don’t offer mortgage broker education directly but have partnered with other companies to provide it.

Learning experience and mode of delivery at VanEd

By offering only online courses, VanEd has put a lot of work into developing interactive courses that don’t feel like reading real estate textbooks just uploaded online. Some of the ways they make this possible include:

• Organizing the content around a very detailed outline.
• Use of professional videos, infographics, and audio.
• Quizzes to test out your knowledge after completing chapters. There are VOCAB matching exercises as well.
• Instructors hold question-and-answer sessions.
• Online field trips.
• If you have a question, you can call or email your assigned instructor. They also offer support via live chat.

What are the best parts of VanEd?

1) Good exam preparation: In countless reviews, many students report passing their real estate exam on the first try with good results.

2) Excellent online curriculum: The platform has been described as easy to use, and it works on all devices.

3) Live support from knowledgeable instructors: Your questions pertaining to the content will be addressed by instructors approved by their respective real estate commissions.

4) Payment plans: Don’t have the cash to fully pay for your online course? You can start learning and pay later.

 5) Five-day trial: After reviewing many online schools, we can gladly tell you that very few offer trials to students. In this respect, VanEd excels. To top it off, you don’t have to submit a payment method or add a credit card to your account.

 

*This article was updated on 1/3/2022

This information was reviewed and approved by Chris Heller. Chris serves on the AgentAdvice Editorial Board and is the Chief Real Estate Officer at OJO Labs. Chris brings deep expertise having held influential industry positions including CEO of mellohome and former CEO of Keller Williams Realty International.