Guess what—you’re only 77 hours of prelicensing coursework away from drumming up business in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. In no time at all, you could be helping clients buy a cozy upstate home, a summer getaway in the Hamptons, or a chic Manhattan apartment. But first, my team and I spent hundreds of hours evaluating real estate schools in NY to help you find the best education provider that fits your budget and learning style. Read through to see which ones made our list.

My Top Picks for Best Online Real Estate Schools in NY

Our Top PicksStarting PricePromo CodeRead More Below
New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI)$495No promo codeNew York Real Estate Institute ↓
The CE Shop$315TheClose35 - Save 35%The CE Shop ↓
Colibri Real Estate$355TheClose30 - Save 30%Colibri Real Estate ↓
Kaplan$379KAPRE5 - Save 5%Kaplan ↓
Aceable Agent$239Click our Aceable Agent link - Save 25%Aceable Agent ↓
RealEstateU$149TheClose10 - Save $10RealEstateU ↓
Featured Partner

Use Our Code “TheClose30” to Get 30% Off on All Colibri Real Estate Prelicensing Courses.

Colibri Real Estate logo
  • Pre-Licensing & Exam Prep: State-required courses and exam preparation with practice tests and study guides.
  • Continuing Education: Courses to maintain licenses and improve skills in real estate.
  • Flexible Online Learning: Self-paced, interactive online courses with videos and quizzes.

Need to learn more about NY education requirements before choosing a school? Check our guide on How to Become a Real Estate Agent in NY in 5 Easy Steps or jump to our Helpful New York Licensing Info section.

Best for Job Placement: New York Real Estate Institute

New York Real Estate Institute
Pros
  • Lifetime job placement assistance
  • Self-paced online, livestream, in-person class formats
  • Local company with access to local brokerages
  • CE courses included in Platinum package
Cons
  • Course is accessible for only four months
  • Course access extension costs at least $100 per month
  • No pass guarantee
  • Platinum package is rather pricey
The Close Score
4.9
Value:
5.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
4.5
Course Features:
3.4
Help & Support:
5.0
Reputation:
4.7
Expert Score:
5.0
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education
  • Broker prelicensing

My Expert Opinion on New York Real Estate Institute

I consider New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI) the best real estate school in NY because of its lifetime job placement assistance. No other school on our list has that feature. Regardless of your niche, NYREI has relationships with some of the top real estate brokerages in New York to help you get started with your career.

💡Room for improvement: While NYREI has almost all the extra features you’ll want from a prelicensing package, I wish the school would extend its course access. Currently, students are only given four months to complete their courses, which isn’t reasonable with its hefty price tag. Extending the course access to at least a year would give students ample time to finish their courses without paying extra.

New York Real Estate Institute Cost

Students may choose between online self-paced, livestream via Zoom, and in-person class formats.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$495-$995
  • Job placement assistance
  • Platinum package includes a textbook, tutoring session, practice exams, CE courses, and a career adviser
Exam Prep
$45-$450
  • Weekly group tutoring sessions
Broker Prelicensing
$250-$870
  • Test-taking strategies
  • Practice exam questions
  • Risk-free guarantee
  • Optional private tutoring sessions
Continuing Education
$50-$190
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Includes all mandatory CE courses
  • Offers a variety of electives
  • Broker remedial course option
  • NYREI school exam for brokers

Enroll in New York Real Estate Institute


Best New York Real Estate School for Exam Prep: The CE Shop

The CE Shop
Pros
  • Modern, expertly designed courses
  • Lots of bonus resources
  • Excellent online learning platform
  • Pass guarantee
  • Offers a wide range of interesting CE courses
  • Continuing education courses included in Premium package
Cons
  • No networking opportunities
  • No live class option
  • No access to live instructors
The Close Score
4.4
Value:
5.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
2.5
Course Features:
3.0
Help & Support:
5.0
Reputation:
4.9
Expert Score:
5.0
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education
  • Broker prelicensing

My Expert Opinion on The CE Shop

As an aspiring agent, you’ll want to find a school that can provide all the types of classes you’ll need throughout your real estate career—which is why I recommend The CE Shop. It has the most interesting real estate continuing education course selection in New York that you can find online. From fair housing to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) code of ethics course, The CE Shop offers all the required hours for your first and subsequent license renewals.

💡Room for improvement: The CE Shop is the best real estate course in New York online for continuing education. However, I think the only thing missing from The CE Shop’s offerings are interactive features such as live webinars and Q&A sessions. It would be the perfect addition to its prelicensing courses.

The CE Shop Cost

All courses may be taken at your own pace. Whichever package you choose from The CE Shop’s offerings, expect lots of bonus resources–even from their most basic ones.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$315-$735
  • Self-paced online course format
  • Exam Prep Edge
  • Business e-books
  • Career resources
  • Digital flashcards
  • Study schedule
  • Business building courses included in Value and Platinum
Exam Prep
$135
  • Initial assessment
  • Interactive dashboard
  • Unlimited simulated exams
  • Individual lessons per topic
  • Exam Prep Edge
  • Business e-books
Continuing Education
$10-$155
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Available for both salesperson and broker
  • NAR Ethics course
Broker Prelicensing
$619
  • 75-hour broker license course
  • Career resources
  • Unlimited practice exams
  • Real estate glossary
  • Downloadable resources

Enroll in The CE Shop and save 35% with our code “TheClose35”

Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our in-depth review and walk-through video for The CE Shop:


Best for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate
Pros
  • Expertly designed curriculum
  • Easy-to-use online platform
  • Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee
  • Exam prep packages include lots of features
  • Offers self-paced and livestream course options
Cons
  • The Basics doesn’t come with test prep materials
  • No access to local real estate brokerages
  • Text-heavy courses
The Close Score
4.4
Value:
5.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Course Features:
3.1
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.4
Expert Score:
4.0
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education
  • Broker prelicensing

My Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate

With all the noteworthy features you’ll get from the Exam Prep Live package, it’s no wonder Colibri made it to my best real estate schools in NY list. Colibri offers everything you’ll need to feel confident for the real estate exam: Q&A sessions with expert instructors, audio course summaries you can listen to anytime, and a series of one-hour webinars. If these won’t give you the right amount of confidence, Colibri’s Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee will. Read our Colibri Real Estate review for more info.

💡Room for improvement: I thought it would be best if Colibri Real Estate added weekend schedules for its livestream classes for the benefit of those who work on weekdays.

Colibri Real Estate Cost

Almost all of Colibri Real Estate’s packages come with a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. This benefit means you may be eligible for a full refund if you don’t pass the real estate exam on your first try.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$355-$613
  • Self-paced or livestream course package options
  • Full audio of coursework
  • Instructor support
  • Real estate study guides
  • Buffini & Company coaching videos
  • Career Booster Pack included in top-tier package
Exam Prep
$115-$219
  • Audio review guides
  • Flashcards
  • Simulated exams
  • Readiness assessment
  • Exam Crammer webinar series
  • Instructor Q&A
Continuing Education
$159
  • Online self-paced format
  • Mandatory and elective courses available
  • NAR Ethics course
Broker Prelicensing
$219-$419
  • Broker remedial course option
  • Principles of Real Estate Practice e-book
  • Math real estate e-book
  • Instructor support
  • 1-year RISMedia Premier Membership

Enroll in Colibri Real Estate and save 30% with our code “TheClose30”

Need to see more before making a decision? Check out our walk-through video for Colibri Real Estate:


Best for Career Resources: Kaplan

Kaplan
Pros
  • Exam prep included in all packages
  • Interactive study groups
  • Career Mentor Connect via Zoom
  • Offers interest-free payment plans
Cons
  • Dated interface, not a great mobile experience
  • No pass guarantee
  • No live online and in-person classes
The Close Score
4.4
Value:
4.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Course Features:
3.3
Help & Support:
4.5
Reputation:
4.7
Expert Score:
4.7
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing courses
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education

My Expert Opinion on Kaplan

While most schools only focus on materials needed to pass the real estate exam, Kaplan stresses the importance of learning real-world skills and income-generating projects as an agent. The Real Estate Accelerator program and Career Mentor Connect are why I chose Kaplan as one of the best real estate schools in NY. Check out our comprehensive Kaplan review for more information.

💡Room for improvement: Kaplan has the second-most expensive basic prelicensing course on this list, so it would make a lot more sense for Kaplan to start adding a pass guarantee in all their packages.

Kaplan Cost

In New York, Kaplan only offers self-paced courses. All packages include weekly live mentorship sessions online and access to an interactive study group. The more expensive options offer extras such as printed textbooks and live online coaching.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$379-$909
  • Online self-paced courses
  • Exam prep materials
  • Interactive study groups
  • Weekly live webinars
  • Live online professional coaching
Exam Prep
$69-$169
  • On-demand course
  • Salesperson drill and practice QBank
  • Hundreds of practice questions
Continuing Education
$29-$133
  • Online self-paced courses
  • On-demand videos
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Interesting range of elective courses

Enroll in Kaplan and save 5% with our code “KAPRE5”


Best for Mobile: Aceable Agent

Aceable Agent
Pros
  • Great learning platform for mobile
  • Live webinars and private tutoring included in the premium package
  • Pass guarantee
  • Exam prep materials included in all packages
Cons
  • No live instruction option
  • No career assistance or networking opportunities
  • No standalone exam prep packages
The Close Score
4.2
Value:
3.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
4.0
Course Features:
3.8
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.6
Expert Score:
4.5
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education courses via Kaplan

My Expert Opinion on Aceable Agent

After all the hours I spent evaluating the best real estate schools in NY, I am most impressed with Aceable Agent’s interface. It’s the only school on my list with a mobile app, so this provider is perfect for people on the go. Aceable Agent’s student dashboard is also easy to navigate, with audio guides, on-demand videos, practice quizzes, and highlights of the most important parts of every lesson. Read our Aceable Agent review for more information.

💡Room for improvement: It would be great if Aceable Agent could expand its services in more states and offer standalone test prep packages.

Aceable Agent Cost

All of Aceable Agent’s prelicensing course packages include a pass guarantee and loads of practice questions that will help you ace the real estate exam.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$239-$469
  • Self-paced online format accessible across all devices
  • Instructor support
  • Hundreds of exam practice questions
  • Mini-course on how to find the right broker
  • Premium study aids and virtual instructor in Deluxe and Premium
  • Private tutoring, live webinars, and instructor Q&A in top-tier package
Continuing Education
$29
  • Virtual classroom and coursework
  • Online self-paced courses
  • CE courses are offered by partner school Kaplan

Enroll in Aceable Agent and save 25%


Best for Students on a Budget: RealEstateU

RealEstateU
Pros
  • Self-paced courses
  • Practice quizzes included
  • Very affordable
  • Offers a refund policy
Cons
  • Text-heavy courses
  • No access to live instructors
  • No live instructor support
The Close Score
3.3
Value:
4.0
Learning Format & Accessibility:
1.5
Course Features:
2.1
Help & Support:
2.5
Reputation:
4.3
Expert Score:
4.5
out
of
5

Education Available

  • Prelicensing
  • Exam prep
  • Continuing education

My Expert Opinion on RealEstateU

Even if it’s the cheapest real estate school in NY on our list, RealEstateU doesn’t skimp on key features. RealEstateU’s courses are easy-to-digest audio lectures over slides, with practice quizzes at the end of each chapter. If you’re the type of independent student who can easily focus on a task on your own, RealEstateU is the best choice.

💡Room for improvement: RealEstateU only has self-paced courses, so students cannot interact with their instructors and peers. That said, I wish RealEstateU would include live Q&A sessions in their course packages so students can ask questions in real time.

RealEstateU Cost

In New York, RealEstateU offers straightforward, simple, and affordable course packages for licensed and aspiring agents.

Type of Education
Price Range
Features
Prelicensing
$149-$453
  • Self-paced courses
  • Infographic materials
  • 24/7 student support
  • State exam study guide
  • Agent Success course included in top-tier package
Exam Prep
$125
  • Sample questions
  • Four practice exams
Continuing Education
$149
  • Self-paced nine-course package
  • Fully satisfies the state's requirements
  • Video and audio lessons taught by six real estate professionals

Enroll in RealEstateU and save $10 with our code “TheClose10”

How We Selected the Best Online Real Estate Schools in New York

In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involves evaluating each school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of real estate schools to determine the best for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry. 

Our detailed criteria included: 

  • Course Features 25%
    • This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
  • Value 20%
    • Pricing and availability of coursework is an important factor to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep. 
  • Learning Format and Accessibility 20%
    • Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, livestream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users. 
  • Expert Score 15%
    • The Close closely reviews each course for standout features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective. 
  • Help and Support 10%
    • If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and ticket system is necessary. 
  • Reputation 10%
    • This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing the customer reviews and popularity of each provider. 

Helpful New York Licensing Info

The Close logo
Quick Facts
account_balance

New York Real Estate Governing Body:

New York State Board of Real Estate

schedule

Prelicensing Requirements:

77 hours

inventory

Post-licensing Requirements:

None

school

Continuing Education Requirements:

22.5 hours every 2 years


FAQs







Bringing It All Together

I hope my list of the best real estate schools in NY has helped you decide where to enroll. At The Close, we’re committed to giving you the best insights and options for your real estate needs. Still have questions? Leave us a comment below!