5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Ohio for 2023 (Updated!)

Hondros College offers both online and in-person real estate classes. You can purchase an all-inclusive educational package or opt for a la carte course that also helps you prepare for a career in real estate and to take the state exam. Pick whichever option best fits your needs, budget, or time frame.

All the courses are taught by respected and highly knowledgeable instructors who are active in the market and stay current on everything involving real estate issues and trends. They not only teach but share real-life experiences.

The school provides textbooks and exam prep content. All the content used in the course is written by experts who are teaching at Hondros College which gives them first-hand knowledge of every word.

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Convenience: 4.9 out 5. Hondros College gives you options for education that most students appreciate. You can choose in-person learning, online, or livestream. All their packages include the necessary 120 hours of pre-licensing courses and 20 hours of post-licensing classes. You also get a membership to the Hondros Alumni Association with their Ultimate Package which gives you 30 hours of continuing education.

You can set your own pace. After obtaining your license, Hondros even helps with networking so you can find your dream job with a leading agency or brokerage in Ohio.

Pass Rate: 4.8 out 5. Impressively, Hondros has a 56% pass rate amongst Ohio students. A lot of their success has to do with the CompuCram study materials that come with the course. This is a $150 value, so it’s really nice that it comes included in the initial price. The CompuCram exam package has an 86.5 percent pass rate in the state of Ohio, so it may be worth bumping up your chances if you have the extra money to spend. Of course, Ohio’s course is the most expensive in the country, which is why so many students forego that idea initially (why the school as a whole only has 56% of students who pass on their first try).

Course Duration: 4.5 out of 5. Real Estate pre-licensing on Ohio requires 120 hours of pre-licensing education. Complete 40 hours of Principles & Practices, 40 hours of Law, 20 hours of Finance and 20 hours of Appraisal. All can be completed at any one of the multiple locations statewide, online, or mix & match to create your own custom schedule.

Support: 4.6 out of 5. You’ll enjoy the Hondros Student Service Team who are always on-hand and ready to answer all your questions or concerns. You a reach them via chat, email, or phone. I really enjoyed the ability to live chat when I had a question, because it was easy to keep trucking along with my course. I was able to keep a window open and play the audio lesson so that I could kill two birds with one stone.

Refund Policy: 4.8 out of 5. The refund policy/cancellation policy offered by Hondros College is complicated. They offer a refund only within a 30-day window of purchase. If a student starts a class and withdraws during the first calendar week, then they must pay 25 percent of the tuition. If the student withdraws during the second week, then they must pay 50 percent. A student who withdraws during the third week must pay 75 percent of the tuition. If the student should withdraw after the start of the fourth week, then they are entitled to no refund.

Class Tuition x Student Obligation % (determined by the Last Date of Attendance) = Adjusted Student’s Tuition.

• 1st Calendar Week or 10% of class completion: $380 x .25 = $95.00 ($285.00 refund)
• 2nd Calendar Week or 20% of class completion: $380 x .5 = $190.00 ($190.00 refund)
• 3rd Calendar Week or 30% of class completion: $380 x .75 = $285.00 ($95.00 refund)
• 4th Calendar Week or 40% of class completion: $380 x .1 = $380.00 (no refund)

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I would recommend taking Hondros’ Ohio pre-licensing course if you are looking for something that is flexible and easy to manage. I’d suggest taking a look at the Mix & Match package because it allows you to pick and choose which format works best for you. You can livestream the course at times if you’re busy or traveling, but can also attend in person if you have questions or need help. Best of both worlds! And a pretty good bang for your buck, too.

The CE Shop’s course is unrivaled in the realm of real estate education. If you’re seeking a top-tier real estate course in Ohio, your search ends here. With a winning combination of captivating content and cutting-edge test preparation, this course is designed to keep you motivated and focused on your journey towards obtaining a real estate license.

Although it may come with a slightly higher price tag compared to other schools on our list, the value it offers and the range of package options make it well worth the investment. However, the true standout feature lies in its user-friendly mobile app and interface, setting it apart as the most flexible real estate course in Ohio.

While the basic package is sufficient to meet your requirements, I highly recommend considering an upgrade to a higher package. The additional study aids included in the premium packages provide invaluable support and confidence as you approach your licensing exam.

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Convenience: 4.9 out 5. The CE Shop truly stands out in the field of real estate education due to its exceptional user experience. What distinguishes them from their competitors is their commitment to providing a user-friendly interface that ensures a seamless learning experience across all devices. Whether you’re using a computer, tablet, or phone, you’ll find their platform easy to navigate and access your course materials. The progress tracker on the dashboard is a notable feature that constantly updates in real-time, providing you with a clear overview of your progress and motivating you to stay on track.

One of my favorite features of The CE Shop is the flexibility. You have the ability to skip ahead or go back within the course, allowing you to tailor your learning experience to your specific needs. Whether you want to review certain sections or move forward at a faster pace, you have the freedom to do so. Moreover, the course content itself is thoughtfully curated, incorporating a variety of multimedia elements such as audio, video, and interactive quizzes. This diverse mix of content keeps the learning experience engaging and ensures that you stay motivated throughout your journey.

Pass Rate: 4.8 out 5. Impressively, The CE Shop boasts a 53% pass rate among Ohio students, showcasing their commitment to student success. While it may not be the highest pass rate in the state, it surpasses the average rate by a significant margin. In contrast, numerous other real estate schools, including some that didn’t make our list, struggle with pass rates below 40%. This achievement makes The CE Shop’s success rate truly commendable.

The school’s exceptional pass rate can be attributed to their unique approach, specifically their unlimited practice tests. Students have the opportunity to take these tests as many times as they need, allowing for thorough prep time. The tests not only highlight areas that require further review but also provide explanations for incorrect answers. This comprehensive feedback helped me better understand the material and improve my knowledge. Plus, the tests are intelligently re-ordered for each attempt, which makes sure you actually take in the information.

Course Duration: 4.5 out of 5. Recognizing the potential challenges and busy schedules students may encounter during the 120-hour Ohio real estate course,  The CE Shop offers flexible options to accommodate their needs. Here’s an overview of their extension policy:

Upon purchasing the course, students have a generous six-month access period. However, if more time is required to complete the course, a one-month extension can be requested at no extra cost. This initial extension provides an opportunity to continue studying without any additional financial burden. Unfortunately, after that you will have to pay a significant amount if you still need more time. The Ohio course is a long one too, so just be sure to keep that in mind at the beginning.

Support: 4.6 out of 5. The CE Shop’s support team has both its strengths and weaknesses in my opinion. One of their biggest strengths is that they are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and they respond promptly through various channels such as email, phone, and live chat. They excel in troubleshooting technical issues, but they may not be the best resource for content-related or licensing questions.

However, they do offer a two-day promise where they will consult with an instructor if they don’t know the answer to your question and get back to you within two days. Although it may seem like a long wait, it is still better than no response at all.

Refund Policy: 4.8 out of 5. The CE Shop sets itself apart from other real estate schools in Ohio with its latest offering: a 5-day free trial. Should the course not meet your expectations, you can cancel without having to worry about any penalties or fees.

In addition to the free trial, The CE Shop maintains a refund policy that aligns with industry standards. Students are eligible for a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase, provided they have not completed more than half of the course. While this policy may not be groundbreaking, it does provide students with a reasonable level of protection and gives you peace of mind. Other schools like Hondros offer similar, so just look through the terms and conditions and pick the school that is most likely to work with you financially.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I would recommend taking The CE Shop’s Ohio pre-licensing course if you are looking for something that is easy to navigate. I’d suggest taking a look at the Premium package because the additional benefits such as business building courses and downloadable resources is worthwhile, as they provide valuable knowledge and tools that extend beyond passing the exam and can be applied throughout your career. This equips you with the necessary skills and confidence to start out on the right foot.

Edison State Community College’s classes are different than many of the other options available in Ohio….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 ESCC is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum. And often times these in person courses take longer to complete (five months instead of four weeks) 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 ESCC as the best old school real estate course in Ohio.

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Convenience: 3.9 out 5. Edison State’s classes are a mixed bag for me. For decades, ESCC 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 Mays Landing, so if you have a busy schedule like I do, it just isn’t possible. It’s also not convenient for any students who are not in that area of Ohio. 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 Ohio. The textbook is an additional expense and cannot be purchased at the school library, which is another annoying thing about the course. If I’m paying all that money, I don’t want additional fees and costs. Ridiculous!

Pass Rate: 2 out 5. ESCC’ pass rates are lackluster to say the least. About 48% pass their real estate exam on the first try, which is significantly lower than the 54% state average. This is an important factor to consider as Ohio is one of the few states that requires either livestreaming courses or in-person courses. If you’re going to pay an arm and a leg, I’d suggest at least picking a school that will ensure you have the knowledge to pass the exam at the end. But that’s just me.

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. The Ohio real estate course is relatively short (90 hours), so a lot of students want to power through it as quickly as possible. However, ESCC makes that a little more difficult than other courses because you have to rely on instructor availability.

While other schools like The CE Shop allow you to knock out 4-5 hours of coursework in a single session, you are at the mercy of others with ESCC. The CE Shop students are done with the course in about four weeks, while students who enroll at ESCC will have to take a semester long course. That just seems like a waste of time and money if you can get it done cheaper and faster somewhere else.

Support:4.5 out of 5. ESCC’s customer support team is actually pretty horrible to deal with. It’s a headache all around. You can reach out to them through the website or by phone during regular business hours ONLY. I was taking night classes and could never get in touch with someone about billing, which was really frustrating. Even once I was on campus, I couldn’t track anyone down.

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. ESCC is pretty strict when it comes to refunds. Once you enroll and attend a class, you can’t refund anything. You can sell your book back if you want, but even that proved to be difficult.

This is a much stricter policy than online schools like The CE Shop which offer a full refund in the first 30 days as long as the course is not complete. The return policy (or lack thereof) is something to keep in mind because the price point is much higher than other Ohio real estate schools.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I only recommend ESCC’s Ohio 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 Premium 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.

The CE Shop is hands down the easiest online provider to fulfill your continuing education requirements. The state of Ohio requires all licensed agents to do 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years. Most agents are looking for a quick solution to knock these out, so CE Shop is your best bet.

The price point is slightly higher than other providers, but the convenience is what sets them apart. They also have several continuing education packages to choose from, so you can find the right mix of courses for you. For all of these reasons, The CE Shop is the best continuing education course in Ohio.

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Convenience: 4.8 out 5. The CE Shop’s continuing education courses are all online. I also really appreciate the custom-designed online learning platform that is easy to access on a tablet or phone. This allowed me to access the course material on the go, which made a huge difference in how efficient I was with my time.

Reporting is also a major thing to consider when you’re trying to finish your continuing education. Many agents wait until the last minute, so you want to find a provider that will immediately report your completed hours to the Ohio Department of Commerce – Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing. The CE Shop has a policy that they will mark your hours as complete within 24 hours. You will also immediately receive a certificate upon completion, students can access an electronic copy of the certificate for a minimum of five years.

Pass Rate: 5 out 5. Passing a final exam is not required to receive continuing education credit in Ohio, so The CE Shop system is set up so that final exams can be passed with a 0% passing score. You just need to complete the hours to receive your credit.

Course Duration: 4.7 out of 5. You must complete 30 hours every 3 years to keep your license active in the state of Ohio. Course expiration dates vary by course but are generally one year after you purchase the package or course. Each individual course will have an expiration date listed in your CE Shop account.

Support: 4.5 out of 5. I used the live chat feature, and the technical team quickly answered my questions and resolved the issue within minutes. However, it’s worth noting that direct access to instructors is not available. In the event of encountering a problem with the course materials, the support team pledges to provide a response within two days. Waiting for two days can feel like quite a stretch if you find yourself stuck in the middle of a lesson.

Refund Policy: 4.1 out of 5. The CE Shop doesn’t offer refunds for continuing education courses. Luckily, the price point is pretty low, so you won’t be out a ton of money.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I highly recommend The CE Shop’s Ohio continuing education courses. They are very quick and convenient, and provide a lot of flexibility. Agents are required to take 11 mandatory hours mixed with 7  “non-legal” or elective hours. That gives you the freedom to decide which courses are most important to you when picking your elective courses. You can choose courses about how to do a market analysis, property management, veteran affairs, fair housing, and personal safety.

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 Ohio 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.

Terra State’s classes are not great….and frankly not worth it. If you really thrive in a traditional classroom setting with in-person instructors, then this is an option. But the commuting and old-school approach is less than desirable if you ask me. The high price point and lack of online options weren’t things I was very impressed with.

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Convenience: 3.9 out 5. The college offers a real estate salesperson course that is designed to prepare students for the real estate exam. It covers property rights, leases, deeds, title transfers, mortgages, settlement procedures, and appraising and administrative regulations. It will get you up to date with all state requirements necessary for taking the real estate license.

Pass Rate: 2 out 5. Terra States’s pass rates are also less than impressive. About 44% pass their real estate exam on the first try, which is significantly lower than the 54% state average. There also aren’t any study guides or practice exams that are included with the course, which is crazy for how expensive it is. If you want those materials, you’ll have to purchase them separately on your own. Bummer!

Course Duration: 4.4 out of 5. The Ohio real estate course is actually pretty long (120 hours!), so a lot of students want to power through it as quickly as possible. However, Terra State’s structure doesn’t really allow for that. You have to sit through an entire semester worth of classes, instead of being able to knock it out in just four weeks like you can with The CE Shop.

Support:4.5 out of 5. Terra State’s customer support team falls short in providing a satisfactory level of assistance. They offer limited availability for contacting their support team, with communication options restricted to the website or phone during regular business hours only. This can be a significant drawback for students who may require assistance outside of standard operating hours.

A notable issue arises when attempting to reach Terra State’s customer support team outside of regular business hours. If you have a question or concern after 5 p.m. on a Friday, for example, you may not receive a response until Monday morning. This delay can be particularly inconvenient for students who prefer to work on their coursework during weekends or have urgent inquiries that need to be addressed promptly.

Refund Policy: 2 out of 5. I didn’t need to get a refund, but thought it was important to note that there isn’t a refund policy at all at Terra State. If you change your mind, or aren’t happy with the course, you’ll just lose your money entirely.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I only recommend Terra State’s Ohio pre-licensing course if you are looking for an in-person option and are in Central Ohio. For new agents, I’d suggest taking a look at The CE Shop’s Premium 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.