6 Best Real Estate Schools in South Carolina (2023 Updated!)

The South Carolina real estate market has some of the hottest suburban listings in the south. Over the years, more and more people are flocking to the Palmetto State, moving to areas like Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. While the interest is far from peaking, there aren’t as many licensed agents across the state, so there are plenty of potential clients to be swooped up.

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 get your real estate license in South Carolina. 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 license experts spent hundreds of hours researching, scoring, and ranking the top South Carolina 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 South Carolina. Our full guide on how we rank courses is available here, but the short version of 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 South Carolina you should consider.

Quick Links:

1. Best Schools
2. Best Online School
3. Best Value
4. Top Pick

All Schools: 

1. AceableAgent
2. The CE Shop
3. RealEstateU
4. Colibri Real Estate
5. Exceed Real Estate School
6. Real Estate School for Success

Quick Compare 

AceableAgent

Editor’s Score: A+

The goal of AceableAgent is to make real estate education accessible to as many people as possible, which is why they’ve developed a mobile app through which students can study on the go wherever they are.  The app is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, so everyone can use it freely. 

Although AceableAgent is a relatively newer real estate school, their courses are accredited by both The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and The International Distance Education Certification Center (The International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC)).

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Course Content

AceableAgent has 3 packages to choose from in South Carolina.

• The Basic package includes:
  • Lite Exam Prep- 300+ unique real estate exam practice questions
  • Instructor Support- Email course experts anytime
  • Multimedia Learning Experience- Video, interactive games, & infographics
• The Deluxe package includes:
  • 75 Videos, 70 Audio Lessons, Plus Digital Flashcards
  • Deluxe Exam Prep- Unlock 1,500+ additional practice test questions
  • Real Estate Exam Prep E-book- Over 100 pages to prepare you for the real estate test
• The Premium package includes:
  • One Hour of Private Tutoring With a Real Estate Expert
  • Live Webinars 5x/Week
  • Access to Webinar Archive- Watch hundreds of hours of educational videos anytime
  • Live Q&A- Hosts pull questions from social media and answer them live

All three packages cover both units required by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, including the following:

Unit I: The South Carolina Real Estate Principles and Practices Course – 60 hours

This course includes a number of topics that future real estate agents need to get familiar with in order to be successful in the industry. At the end of the 60-hours, they will learn about real estate ethics, contracts, brokerage relationships, and how to settle closings.

However, that’s not all. They will also be responsible for having a solid understanding of real property, real estate laws, pricing, and real estate financing.

During Unit I, students will need to pay close attention, because they will be tested on their knowledge of all 8 of these topics during the exam.

Unit II: The South Carolina Advanced Real Estate Principles Course – 30 hours

In these 30-hours, students can find out where their strengths and weaknesses lie in the industry, as they get to test the waters a little bit more. They still are responsible for learning about ethics, contracts, disclosures, and valuations, however, they also get to dive into specialty topics. They can see if they have any interest in fair housing, real estate technology, or if they have a knack for commercial real estate in Unit II.

Ratings & Reviews

The reviews left for AceableAgent’s services on Agent Advice are on average pretty high. Here is one of those reviews: 

“It was good! I liked that I was able to get my license online! It did let me flexible & I really did learn a lot. The only suggestion I’d give is to make it more user friendly so that we can locate the resources more efficiently and include even more videos. Other than that, I thought it was a good price & I would recommend to a prospective agent.”

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

What are the best parts?

The courses offered by AceableAgent are developed by experienced professionals from the real estate world and endorsed by highly regarded names from the real estate sphere. 

In addition to this, AceableAgent gives people the convenience of studying anywhere and at any time thanks to its app. It currently holds a 4.7 rating on the Google Play Store and a 4.9-star rating on the App Store, which shows that it has proven to be useful for most students who used it. 

What are the worst parts?

Students have up to one year to finish the course. While this may seem like a long time, many students complained that they like a longer window of time to successfully complete the course.

Limited technical support is one of the biggest complaints among students. Reps are available from 8:30 AM to 5 PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 8:30 AM to 3 PM Tuesday and Thursday. They have no weekend hours, which means that they cannot provide support if you have any issues come up on off hours.

Return policy/cancellation policy

AceableAgent courses are fully refundable if you haven’t completed the course and if the refund request is made no later than 30 days of buying the course. 

A student who cancels the enrollment contract before midnight of the thirtieth day after the enrollment contract is signed can also receive a full refund unless they have successfully completed the course or received a failing grade on the course examination. 

AceableAgent Pros	AceableAgent Cons
A mobile app for studying	Course access lasts for 12 months
The highest pass rate among schools with 1,000+ students	Some bugs on the mobile app
Straightforward and entertaining course materials	Limited technical support
Exam prep through PrepAgent	Outsourced exam proctoring

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The CE Shop

Editor’s Score: A

The CE Shop is a real estate school that opened in 2005 and currently offers pre-licensing, post-licensing, and continuing education services across different US states, including South Carolina. 

Although they are a newer real estate school, they’ve received numerous awards and recognitions from institutions across the US. Their courses are also accredited by The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and approved by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. 

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Course Content

The packages offered by The CE Shop are Courses Only, Standard Package, Value Package, and Premium Package. All courses come with several business books you can only access online, a schedule to better plan your time for studying, digital flashcards, resources and opportunities to advance your career, and instructor-led webinars on each of the exam topics. 

The remaining content of each course is as follows: 

Courses Only

As its name suggests, this package contains only the two mandatory pre-licensing courses: 

• SC 60-Hr Unit I Salesperson Pre-licensing Course
• SC 30-Hr Unit II Advanced Real Estate Principles Course

Standard Package

This package contains the 90-hours of pre-licensing needed in South Carolina. It also includes exam prep, which helps students prepare for the national and state licensing exam. Another key feature, is the Pass Guarantee. Just as the name suggests, students can get their money back if they don’t pass the final exam. That perk alone is why this package is a student favorite.

Value package

This package includes everything the Standard Package includes. However, it adds in three business courses as well to help students plan for success after getting their real estate license. With this feature, students can build up their network or begin searching for future clients, they can get tips on how to build a successful business from the ground up, and they can take a course to see if commercial real estate is right for them.

Premium Package

The Premium Package is even more inclusive, adding an extra bonus. If students choose this package, they also receive a 10-hour education renewal opportunity. This is a major plus in the state of South Carolina, because the real estate commission requires agents to brush up on their education every two years. With this package, the cost of the first 10-hours are already included, which can save you time and money when it’s time for your first renewal two years later.

Individual Courses

The Unit I and Unit II course can also be bought separately. 

Exam Prep

The CE Shop currently offers an exam prep for both portions of the exam – national and state. They can be purchased separately, or both as a package, so students can focus on the area they believe they need to improve on. 

Each of the exam prep packages contains practice exams, instructor support around the clock, a breakdown of each topic into individual lessons, and a real-time dashboard which visually tells you how ready you are for your exam. 

Ratings & Reviews

The CE Shop currently has 40 reviews on our reliable review page, where schools can’t pay to have their reviews removed. Out of these reviews, only two students have had negative experiences, while over 30 have had a positive experience with The CE Shop. Here is one of the 4-star reviews they have:

“I thought the test prep was really good. I felt like it portrayed the actual exams as best as they could without violating the state restrictions. I had failed my first time thinking I was prepared, but for the second time, I was able to see the questions I got wrong and study those sections. I did pass my second time around, thanks to the test prep. I highly recommend it.”

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

What are the best parts?

Studying with The CE Shop means you’re getting all the study resources and aid you need. Every course comes with a long list of tools that break down everything you need to know. The CE Shop makes sure they are easy to access and manage as you begin to study. The Real Estate Glossary that is also provided helps students learn the terminology of the industry, so all students will get everything they need to pass the exam. 

In addition to this, three of the four packages offered also provide access to business-building courses, so students will also get help with starting their business after obtaining a license. 

What are the worst parts?

One of the few complaints about The CE Shop was directed towards the lack of interactive parts in the courses. Some students would prefer seeing more video lessons and fewer repetitions in the materials.

Return policy/cancellation policy

Courses purchased through The CE Shop can be refunded only if the student hasn’t completed more than 50% of the course. 

Exam Preps can be refunded only if an initial assessment hasn’t been made. 

The CE Shop Pros	The CE Shop Cons
Multiple study package materials and monthly payment plans	Only text-based study materials
The widest variety of course topics	Materials take longer to complete than the predicted course time
Unlimited practice tests	Broad exam prep questions
Frequent discounts and promotions	Doesn't cover real estate math well

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RealEstateU

Editor’s Score: B

RealEstateU is a relatively new real estate company compared to the other ones on this list. It opened its doors less than a decade ago, but has gone very quickly in that time. To date, the school has had over 60,000 students take their classes, all of which are approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and ARELLO.

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What is included in the study packages?

The main focus of RealEstateU is to provide audio classes that students can listen to on a computer, smartphone, or tablet anywhere they are. RealEstateU provides the best courses for someone wanting to study while on the go. The course package includes six 30-hour audio courses:

• Each course has several chapters that are broken down into separate lessons.
• Lessons consist of an audio lecture with related key terms. The lessons may also include an infographic/diagram, a supporting document, or a mini-quiz.
• At the end of each chapter is a multiple-choice quiz.
• After completing the last chapter in the course, you will be eligible to take the course final exam.

The final exam is proctored online by ProctorU, and once you pass it, you will also receive a certificate of completion. Keep in mind that the courses have to be completed within one year. Students who fail the licensing exam in Texas twice are required by TREC to retake the pre-licensing course once again. 

Real Estate U also offers a Texas State Exam Prep that summarizes the key concepts taught throughout the pre-licensing education courses and six practice tests: three for the national exam and three for the state exam.

Ratings & Reviews 

There are many success stories on the website shared by previous students who are now working as real estate agents in Texas. 

Past students have given RealEstateU a fairly average rating. However, many students would have liked each course to go a little bit more in depth, including scenarios and real life situations they may encounter. 

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

What are the best parts?

One of the biggest perks of RealEstateU is the low price point. It is by far one of the most affordable courses. They focus heavily on discounts and promo codes, so you can often find the pre-licensing courses for as low as $99. However, don’t let the price be the only factor you consider when looking for a pre-licensing education provider. 

Another advantage of studying with RealEstateU is the flexibility of taking the classes at your own pace. All their classes come on audio files that can be played on a computer, smartphone, or tablet, which means you can study on the go. There are no mandatory in-person classes. 

Previous reviews from students also state that the instructors holding the classes are very knowledgeable and easy to understand.

 

What are the worst parts?

The first negative side of taking courses through RealEstateU is that you only get access to the audio files when purchasing the package. This means you are only given access to the six courses without any additional materials, study books, or flashcards. If you want to research the topic more in-depth, you have to purchase some of the additional books or materials offered on the website. 

Another negative of RealEstateU is that you don’t get any access to instructors, which can prove to be an issue if you need additional guidance or assistance. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

All courses purchased with RealEstateU are eligible for a refund within 30 days of purchase for students who haven’t completed more than 50% of the course material. In addition to this, every refund is subject to a $20 admin charge. 

RealEstateU Pros	RealEstateU Cons
Affordable prices and high discounts	Study materials don't go in-depth
Flexibility with taking the courses	No live instructor help
30-day money-back guarantee	No additional study materials included

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Colibri Real Estate

Editor’s Score: B

Founded in 1996 as one of the pioneers in providing real estate education, Colibri Real Estate is very popular among real estate students today. As part of a bigger family of brands from multiple industries, Colibri, formerly known as Real Estate Express, currently provides pre-license education in 39 states and post-license education in 10 US states.

All courses provided by Colibri Real Estate are state-approved and meet The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and The International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC) accreditation requirements. They stand behind the quality of their courses, so most courses they offer come with a Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee. 

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Course Content

Colibri Real Estate currently has four course packages in South Carolina: The Basics, Exam Preparation, Exam Preparation Plus, and Ultimate Learning. 

The content of each package is as follows: 

The Basics

Recommended for disciplined self-starters that have some real estate experience behind them, this is the toughest of the pre-licensing courses to sign up for because there aren’t as many resources to help test your knowledge of the concepts before you have to take the licensing exam. The course only includes the 90-hour requirements, limited books that are only accessible online, and limited instructor support. 

Exam Preparation

Recommended for those that need Extra exam simulation and a money-back guarantee. This is a very popular package in South Carolina. It includes everything the Basic Package includes, but also throws in exam prep questions and allows you to become a prep for success basic member. This means you can continue to access the resources and supportive learning platform even after passing the exam. Students can also take advantage of the pass or don’t pay guarantee if they sign up for this package. 

Exam Preparation Plus

Recommended for those that want to talk to an expert regularly and establish a social media presence. This package includes everything the Exam Prep course offers, but it also throws in a real estate dictionary, which helps students learn the terms they need to know to be successful in the industry. It also includes unlimited Q&A sessions with instructors, so students can tell if they are on the right path. 

Ultimate Learning

Recommended for those that want to change their lives and become an expert in a new career. This package includes everything you need to pass the licensing exam on the first try. It also helps guide students along slowly so they don’t feel overwhelmed by the new content all at once. It includes everything the Exam Prep Plus package includes, but has two additional items that students find comforting. The first is a printed course textbook, which students can take with them to study on the go or refer to when they need a refresher. This package also includes a one year Professional Development Membership. The membership gives students access to webinars, job aides, and development courses that can help your career take off. 

Individual Courses

Currently, Colibri Real Estate offers only Unit I as an individual course. 

Exam Prep

The South Carolina Exam Prep package by Colibri Real Estate includes ten exams that monitor your progress each time you take one, a custom exam to see what areas you are struggling with the most, digital flashcards to help you study, and access to both the national final exam as well as the state exam. However, students usually opt for the exam prep for an extra cost because it comes with the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Colibri Real Estate’s rating on Agent Advice is based on hundreds of reviews. Most students that left a review gave it a 4-star or a 5-star rating, showing that previous users of the school’s services are satisfied with what they received for the money they paid. Here is what one student had to say about Real Estate Express:

“If you are self-disciplined enough to do online studies, this would be the best option. It was thorough and super user friendly. I do wish they would’ve provided us with more resources like study guides for their tests that prepared us, and we could refer back to them for the actual tests. It was a good class and super affordable.”

Want to learn more about Colibri Real Estate? Check out more here.

What are the best parts?

Colibri Real Estate is dedicated to providing its students with a comprehensive service, so students can pick between four pre-licensing packages, each of them with a different level of features and elements. All courses are taught by carefully picked professionals, so students can be assured that they get a reliable education service taught by people with experience from the real estate market.  

What are the worst parts?

As they offer a comprehensive service, Colibri Real Estate’s courses come at a higher cost than some other real estate schools. However, as they have multiple packages, everyone can find one that is fit for their budget. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Three of the four course packages offered by Colibri Real Estate come with a “Pass or No Pay” guarantee that ensures students will pass the exam on the first try or get their full payment refunded. 

Other than the Pass or No Pay Guarantee, Colibri Real Estate offers a 100% refund of the purchase price if a student is not satisfied with the course within one week of purchase. If the student hasn’t started the course, they can ask for a full refund within one month after the purchase. 

Colibri Real Estate Pros	Colibri Real Estate Cons
Different course and package options	Course access expires six months after purchase
Created by real estate pros	Confusing study materials
Pass or don't pay guarantee	Lower pass rates than other top-ranking schools
A lot of study materials provided	Outdated materials for the state portion

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Exceed Real Estate School

Editor’s Score: B

Exceed Real Estate School meets the requirements set by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) and is licensed to provide pre-licensing and post-licensing courses. While they don’t have continuing education courses, they are developing them as well. 

Traditionally, Exceed Real Estate School has been an in-class type of real estate school. However, due to recent developments, they’ve introduced the virtual classroom delivery method, so students now can opt to take their classes through Zoom. 

Course Content

At the moment, Exceed only covers the 90-hour mandatory courses required by SCREC. The topics covered in this course are about property ownership, financing, pricing and valuations, agencies, and ethics. 

Students will also learn about limitations, disclosures and contracts, title transfers, closing-fair housing, statutes, and South Carolina License Law.

All in all, this is a very thorough overview of the types of situations real estate agents run into. Students need to master these topics in order to become successful in the industry.

Exam Prep

With the exam prep offered by Exceed Real Estate School, students can get a one on one session with their instructor to have their questions answered and review the material they learned. 

Ratings & Reviews 

To this date, Exceed Real Estate School has only five reviews left on Agent Advice, one of the most reliable real estate school review sources. Out of those five reviews, four are 5-star, and one is a 2-star review, showing a contrasting experience for students. Here is one of the comments:

“ExceeD will definitely set you up for success. The instructors I had were absolutely amazing. I cannot thank Ed and Shane enough. The wealth of knowledge they shared with not only myself but the rest of the class is priceless. Definitely top-notch instructors and has me completely ecstatic to start this career in Real Estate.”

What are the best parts?

The best aspect of Exceed Real Estate School’s courses is that they are taught in a virtual classroom. Through direct contact with the instructor, students can get an expert point of view of the topics covered and have all questions answered. This is especially beneficial for those that want to be in a classroom setting but don’t have the time to go back and forth to the school several times per week. This is also a great alternative with the current risk of rising COVID-19 cases. 

What are the worst parts?

As Exceed Real Estate School was focused on classroom courses, they are still new in the online delivery method, so their courses are still underdeveloped. There is not much information on their website about the content of the virtual classroom courses other than the mandatory 60-hour topics. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Students can cancel their course by providing a written notice to Exceed 72 hours prior to the start of the first class meeting and receive a full refund. Rescheduling the course is also an option, but only if the student pays a $25 administrative transfer fee.

Pros: 

• All courses taught by an actual instructor
• Affordable prices and frequent promotions and discounts
• Courses held several times throughout the day

Cons: 

• Only one course package offered
• No flexibility
• Not enough information about the courses

Also Considered:

Real Estate School for Success

Editor’s Score: C

As they say, Real Estate School for Success takes pride in creating an educational environment that is both informative and entertaining, so they put an emphasis on providing students with everything they need to pass the licensing exam and launch their real estate career.

They provide education for the following licenses: Real Estate, Property Management, Appraisal, Home Inspection, and Home Builder. 

Course Content

Real Estate School for Success has one course package offered in two types of delivery methods: video courses or in a classroom experience. 

The video courses are actual recordings of the classroom lessons to give students a real-world experience. The video lessons allow students to pause and rewind the lessons to study at their own pace and contain the Unit I – Real Estate Principals (60 hours) and Unit II – Advanced Real Estate Principals (30 hours) courses. 

Each Unit can also be purchased individually as well. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Real Estate School for Success doesn’t currently have reviews left on Agent Advice; however, reviews left on Google show a 4.4-star rating based on 34 reviews. 

What are the best parts?

As they focus on the South Carolina market, studying at Real Estate School for Success means you’re getting a specialized education taught by people that work in the local market. 

In addition to this, they also recruit only proven real estate professionals to teach their courses, so students will get taught by proven experts with experience from the local real estate market. 

What are the worst parts?

Like some other real estate schools in South Carolina, the biggest flaw of Real Estate School for Success is that they offer only one course package. This package contains only the basic pre-licensing classes required by South Carolina Real Estate Commission, so students that need extra help would have to purchase an exam prep or additional study aids from other schools.

Return policy/cancellation policy

The schools refund and cancellation policies are as follows:

• A student who cancels his/her enrollment in a course prior to that course’s beginning date shall be entitled to a refund of tuition paid minus an amount equal to 10% of the tuition.
• A student who withdraws from or is expelled by the Real Estate School for Success will not be due a refund.
• If under any circumstances, a student is a “no show” for a course, there will be no refund given to the student. The student may be credited for the course missed and will have 180 days to take the course. If the course is not taken within 180 days, the student will lose the credit and repay for the course.

Pros: 

• Specialized in providing South Carolina real estate education
• Courses taught by South Carolina real estate professionals
• A lot of additional study aids offered

Cons:

• The course is available only six months
• Only one basic course package offered

 

Final Thoughts

Among the many online real estate schools that provide real estate education in South Carolina, a few of them have stood out from the crowd. These education providers all offer something different, so before you opt for one of them, carefully analyze what they cover under their list of services.