5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Maryland for 2024

The CE Shop’s course is undoubtedly my top choice out of all of the online real estate courses in Maryland. If you’re unsure about the course format that suits you best, I highly recommend this one. It provides a variety of packages, allowing you to choose the features that match your learning style.

When it comes to affordability, The CE Shop stands out as the most budget-friendly option. On top of that, their free five-day trial makes it the best overall choice for an online course in Maryland. This exceptional offering allows you to experience the classes firsthand before making any commitments, with no questions or contracts necessary.

While you can sign-up for the cheapest package, I’d recommend the “Premium” package just because of the added benefits it comes with. The perks of the Pass Guarantee make it worth the extra cost, because it’s an insurance policy that you won’t lose money if you fail the real estate exam.

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Convenience: 4.9 out 5. The standout feature of The CE Shop’s course is without a doubt its user interface. The custom-designed online learning platform sets it apart, as it can be conveniently accessed on various devices such as tablets, desktops, and phones, allowing for flexible studying on the go. This adaptability is especially beneficial for individuals with busy schedules, as it enables them to make the most of their downtime by fitting in lessons.

One aspect that particularly impressed me was the dashboard that greets you upon logging in. It provides a clear overview of your course progress, indicating how much you have completed and which lessons are still remaining. The ability to skip ahead or review previous material at any time adds to the convenience and flexibility of the course. Moreover, the content itself offers a well-rounded combination of videos, infographics, and interactive quizzes. This diverse approach prevents monotony and distinguishes it from other Maryland real estate schools that primarily rely on text-based materials.

Pass Rate: 4.8 out 5. The CE Shop has a really good pass rate amongst Maryland students! Maryland is one of the few states that has a really pass rate percentage. Only about 30% of students pass on their first try (yikes!), but the schools we’ve selected as our favorite give you the best odds. The CE Shop, for example, gives you the best chance as 40.06% of students do pass after taking their courses.

Course Duration: 4.6 out of 5. The Maryland real estate course offered by The CE Shop has a relatively short duration of just 60 hours. However, students often want to know in advance how quickly they can complete the course or if they will have ample time to finish it in case of obstacles or busy schedules.

Thankfully, The CE Shop provides a flexible extension policy to accommodate such needs. Initially, the course expiration is set at 6 months from the date of purchase. However, students are granted a complimentary one-month extension, granting them extra time at no additional cost. Following this initial extension, there is a notable price increase.

For any subsequent reactivation or extension beyond the seventh month, The CE Shop has implemented a fee structure. Each 30-day extension incurs a charge equivalent to 20% of the current retail price of the course. This policy allows students to continue their learning journey with the necessary flexibility while also ensuring that the course remains accessible and up-to-date.

Support: 4.7 out of 5. The support team at The CE Shop deserves high praises for their quick service, providing assistance around the clock. While every team has its strengths and weaknesses, they set themselves apart by being available seven days a week via phone, chat, and email. This level of availability surpasses the service provided by most other online schools. I personally found the individuals I spoke with over the phone to be incredibly helpful, providing me with a detailed list of the next steps to take.

In situations where they didn’t have an immediate answer, particularly regarding course content, the support team would kindly collect my information and assure me that I would receive a response within a day or two. Initially, I was concerned about the possibility of not hearing back at all, but to my pleasant surprise, an instructor reached out to me the very next day, offering to address any questions I had about the exam. This proactive and responsive approach by the instructor further showcased the dedication of The CE Shop’s support team.

Refund Policy: 4.7 out of 5. Undeniably, the standout advantage of The CE Shop is their remarkable 5-day free trial program. This recent addition allows students to enroll in the course and explore its offerings without the need to provide any credit card information upfront. This unique offering sets them apart from other real estate schools in Maryland, as no other course comes close to providing this opportunity for trial and evaluation.

However, when considering the refund policy alone, The CE Shop follows a relatively standard approach. Within the first month of enrollment, students are eligible for a full refund, as long as they have not completed more than half of the course. This policy is consistent with other schools such as Colibri Real Estate, and there is nothing particularly special about it in comparison.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, if I could only recommend one course in Maryland, it would be The CE Shop. It’s simple to navigate, and will help to prepare you for the real estate exam. I’d suggest taking a look at the Premium package because the extra perks like the pass guarantee make it a better overall value. It also comes with career resource books written by experts, and business building courses which are a huge help even after you pass the test and begin your new career.

Colibri Real Estate’s course has the best refund policy in Maryland, bar none. They offer a Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, a course swap option, and a chance to demo the student dashboard before paying. If you are wavering back and forth about whether or not real estate school is the right path for you, then this is the I’d pick. It gives you the best chance of getting your money back if you change your mind.

When it comes to price, it’s definitely on the higher end of the spectrum, but there are four packages ranging in price ($261-$473) to choose from, which means you can add as many features as you want to. There are also almost always discounts and sales going on, which is a huge help.

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Convenience: 4.6 out 5. No matter which package you choose, Colibri offers interactive course content. All four packages provide study guides and coaching videos sourced from Buffini & Company. These videos offer valuable real-world examples, illustrating industry situations and addressing common questions. With a standalone value of $150, these videos serve as an excellent complement to the course material.

For those seeking the best test preparation experience, access to live Q&A sessions, or simulated exams, upgrading to one of the more premium options is necessary. While the most affordable course option will still suffice, the choice ultimately depends on your preferred learning style.

Without a doubt, my favorite part of Colibri is the “readiness assessment.” This feature provides an evaluation of your exam readiness, assigning a score from 1 to 10. It serves as a valuable tool in determining whether you should continue studying or if you are ready to proceed with signing up for the exam. The readiness assessment adds an extra layer of confidence and guidance to your exam preparation journey.

Pass Rate: 4.2 out 5. Colibri’s pass rate amongst Maryland students is higher than a lot of other schools, but it’s still pretty lackluster to be honest. About 24.59% of Colibri students go on to pass the state exam. However, it’s important to note that they have more students than most of the other schools. About 125 students take their courses every single month, most other Maryland online courses are lucky to get 4 who enroll each month. All together, Colibri has helped more than 520,000 aspiring agents get their real estate license in Maryland. That being said, it’s not the highest pass rate on our list of schools, so you can certainly find a school (for a cheaper price) that will prepare you for the test in a more interactive way.

Course Duration: 4.5 out of 5. Although the Maryland pre-licensing course can be completed in a relatively short time of 60 hours, some individuals prefer to have extra flexibility in case unexpected busyness arises. Colibri Real Estate offers an advantageous option to extend course access, allowing students to choose from 7, 30, or 60-day extensions, with prices increasing accordingly for longer durations. Additionally, Colibri provides a “retake” option, which grants a $25 discount if a student decides to start the course over. In comparison to other schools, Colibri’s policy is relatively generous, offering students the freedom to manage their course timeline effectively. It is worth noting that the initial course access provided by Colibri is valid for 6 months, and beyond this period, students would need to consider extending their course access to continue their studies.

Support: 4.6 out of 5. Colibri Real Estate has rightfully earned a strong reputation as a reliable provider of online real estate education, and their commitment to customer support reinforces this recognition. They go above and beyond to ensure students can connect with a real person when assistance is needed, offering various avenues for communication on their platform. Whether it’s enrollment-related inquiries or general support, Colibri provides dedicated phone lines for each purpose.

Plus, their “live education specialist” is consistently available for immediate assistance through live chat, responding promptly within seconds and offering a comprehensive list of helpful resources. This commitment to accessible and responsive customer support sets Colibri apart and contributes to their overall reliability as an online real estate education provider.

Refund Policy: 4.6 out of 5. Colibri excels in providing excellent refund options for students who prioritize flexibility. They have implemented several safeguards to make sure that students do not risk losing their money. Specifically, for those who enroll in their self-paced online courses, which are highly popular, there is a generous opportunity to receive a 100% refund within one week if they are dissatisfied with the course. Even if a student has not yet started the course, they can request a full refund within one month of enrollment.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: I would recommend Colibri’s Maryland pre-licensing course. For aspiring agents, I’d suggest taking a look at the Ultimate Learning package. The extra perks like the career success tools, the coaching videos, and the CompuCram Exam Prep make it a great value that will help you find success long after you finish your real estate course.

Agent Advice is hiring realtors, and we’ve built the most affordable way for you to get your Real Estate License. Here’s how it works:

• Purchase your course from agentadvice.theceshop.com
• Complete your course and pass the state and national licensing exams
• Email us to schedule your interview with our recruiters
• Then join our brokerage, and we’ll reimburse your course costs as soon as your license transfers – easy peasy

Other program details

Once you receive confirmation from the state that you’ve passed the state and national exams, you can email us at support@agentadvice.com to get connected with our recruiters. One of our recruiters will reach out to you to get to know you and share any and every thing you’ll want to know to decide if our brokerage is the right fit for you. If it’s not, you’re under no obligation to join our brokerage.

If you do join us, our support team will then reimburse you within 2 business days of joining. Reimbursement will come in the form of a gift card or check equal to the value of the course purchased, and will be delivered electronically.

AgentAdvice.com is not the provider of any courses, and all state certifications, ongoing support questions, etc. will be provided by and fulfilled directly through the school. Feel free to email us with any other specific questions about our tuition reimbursement program.

Maryland Real Estate Academy’s classes are different than many of the other options available in Maryland….and different isn’t a good thing in this case. If you absolutely need a traditional classroom setting with in-person instructors, this is the best one. But the old-school approach does come at a cost, as MREA is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum. And often times these in person courses take longer to complete because you can’t power through the hours online at your own pace.

The high price point and lack of online options weren’t things I was very impressed with, but if you really need an in-person option, it’s the best of what is out there. Unfortunately, many of the other in-person schools available are even worse experiences, which is why I’ve included MREA as the best old school real estate course in Maryland.

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Convenience: 3.9 out 5. MREA’s classes are a mixed bag for me. While they do offer both online and in-person classes, as I said above, the online courses just aren’t as good as the more modern online real estate schools. Because of that, this review is going to focus on their in-person class.

For decades, MREA has boasted about their traditional classroom approach, and they were very popular before online options were readily available. They only have one campus, and it’s in Baltimore, so if you have a busy schedule like I do, it just isn’t possible.  BUT – if you really, really value one-on-one time with instructors, and that’s the best way you learn – this is the best in-person school in Maryland.

Pass Rate: 2 out 5. MREA’ pass rates actually aren’t bad. About 41.67% pass their real estate exam on the first try, which is significantly better than the 30% state average. This is an important factor to consider as Maryland has one of the lowest pass percentages in the country.

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. The Maryland real estate course is relatively short (60 hours), so a lot of students want to power through it as quickly as possible. However, MREA makes that a little more difficult than other courses because you have to rely on instructor availability.

While other schools like The CE Shop or even Colibri Real Estate allow you to knock out 4-5 hours of coursework in a single session, you are at the mercy of others with MREA. That being said, you do have unlimited access to the course if you get busy or fall behind. Because I didn’t have to cram or worry about expiration dates, I felt that I would have plenty of time to study and prepare for the exam with this format.

Support:4.5 out of 5. MREA’s customer support team is pretty lackluster to say the least. You can reach out to them through the website or by phone during regular business hours ONLY. I had a question after 5 p.m. on Friday and could not get in touch with anyone until Monday morning. This could pose a problem if you are trying to knock out coursework on the weekends.

Refund Policy: 4.4 out of 5. I didn’t need to get a refund, but this is something everyone always asks about so I’ve included it in the review. MREA is pretty strict when it comes to refunds. If you go in-person (again, why would you pay $375 to take an online class?!), you can get a refund within 5 days. However you’ll be charged a $20 cancellation fee and the cost of the textbook(s). After 5 days, courses are non-refundable.

This is a much stricter policy than online schools like The CE Shop and Colibri which offer a full refund in the first 30 days as long as the course is not complete. If you choose to go with the MREA online format, no refunds or credits will be given if you start the course or even download the PDF textbook. The return policy (or lack thereof) is something to keep in mind because the price point is much higher than other Maryland real estate schools.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I only recommend MREA’s Maryland pre-licensing course if you are looking for an in-person option. For new agents, I’d suggest taking a look at The CE Shop’s Deluxe Package instead. You can enjoy the perks of interactive, engaging content, but can also take the course from the convenience of your home without having to commute to a campus every time.

PrepAgent is designed to help future agents pass the real estate exam. They offer online group webinars, online training tools, e-books, and thousands of state-specific practice questions. 

I looked at dozens of different test prep vendors, including the ones that “come with” the courses – and frankly, all fall short of PrepAgent.

They are constantly updating their content as the exams change. While the questions cannot be the exact same as the real estate exam, PrepAgent strives to keep their content as close to what the exam will provide as possible. The material in the practice exams is written to reflect what an agent would need to know to pass the actual exam. 

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Convenience: 4.8 out 5. PrepAgent offers multiple ways for the students to study. My favorite feature is that you can focus on your weaknesses with category-specific tests, or go straight for the master exam preparation. Interactive flashcards and study guides are available to quiz yourself with, as well as worksheets to help track and remember all the information that has been provided.

PrepAgent also offers explainer videos to help keep the learning process fun. If students opt for the premium package they have access to live online group webinars 7 times a week with a variety of topics that cover the real estate exam. There is a live chat as well as recorded webinars to watch in the future in case you miss one.

In addition to practice exams and up-to-date information on the real estate exam, PrepAgent also offers one-on-one tutoring for those that feel extra individualized attention may help them to better prepare. The tutors help focus on the struggles students are having with absorbing the material and helping to implement tips and study tricks to prepare for the exam. Students can schedule multiple sessions if necessary. 

Refund Policy: 4.1 out of 5. With PrepAgent, you really can’t fail. If you aren’t satisfied with PrepAgent, their packages are covered with a 100% money-back guarantee. This sets them apart from some of their competitors, who have much more restrictive refund policies.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I highly recommend PrepAgents’s Maryland test prep. A feature I really appreciated is the ability to listen to the information in their car. I also applaud the instructors for their relatable way of teaching and how easy they made it to retain the information taught. Overall students seem very pleased with PrepAgent and their teaching methods, with many having stated they were able to pass the real estate exam on the first try using all the tools offered.

Kaplan’s course is one of the hardest to sit through in Maryland, but it can get the job done if you really need it to. Because it’s so boring and there are few redeeming qualities, so I’d say you’re better off choosing another provider.

It’s also more expensive than other courses out there with few added benefits to make up for the high price point. It is not known for being very interactive, so there are definitely better options that will probably hold your attention more.

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Convenience: 2 out 5. The Kaplan courses are built on dated technology. It’s hard to navigate, glitchy, and slow. Even figuring out what courses to purchase gives you a headache.

Pass Rates: 3.8 out of 5: Kaplan’s pass rate amongst Maryland students is pretty lackluster. While it’s not the lowest pass rate by any means, you can certainly find a course that will give you more confidence. About 27.04% of Kaplan students go on to pass the state exam, which is even lower than the 30% average.

Kaplan does offer a PassProtection policy that allows students who enrolled in the Live or Live Online classes to retake their course if they fail the Maryland state exam. That’s great if you happen to fail, but why not choose a course that’s going to give you the knowledge to pass on the first try?

Course Duration: 3.2 out of 5: Although the Maryland real estate course only takes 60 hours to complete, some people want to know they have an extension 0ption upfront in case they need more time. Kaplan’s access policy is pretty limited. You only have 6 months to finish from the date of purchase before it expires.

Another thing to note is that students take a longer time to complete Kaplan courses than any other online real estate school providers. I chalk this up to the monotonous content, and the repetitive lesson plans.

Support: 1 out of 5. In my test purchases, I’ve experienced Kaplan support taking up to 3 business days before responding.  All other schools I’ve tested typically respond within 1-2 hours & never longer than 24 hours during Monday-Friday.

Refund Policy: 0 out of 5. On 3 separate occasions, AgentAdvice students were declined a qualifying refund for Kaplan course purchases, and in each case, we (AgentAdvice) had to step in to personally provide the refund to these students after Kaplan declined to refund the courses or offer a replacement course. We no longer buy courses from Kaplan for this reason, and recommend that any student considering a Kaplan Real Estate course purchase do so expecting not to get a refund if they change their mind.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I can’t recommend Kaplan’s Maryland pre-licensing course. For aspiring agents, I’d suggest taking a look at one of The CE Shop packages instead. The interactive capabilities will seem like such a breath of fresh air compared to the monotonous text-based content Kaplan offers. The 96% student satisfaction rate blows Kaplan’s sub par courses out of the water, and their updated test prep is such a great value.