Essential Information
In Maryland, there are approximately 100 public and private colleges and universities from which to choose. The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations has identified nearly 20 community colleges that have continuing education (CE) and/or prelicensing real estate education courses. Most standalone real estate prelicensing courses are about two months long. A high school diploma or GED is the minimum education to enroll in these courses.
The 10 largest schools from this list are featured below, as well as two 4-year schools that offer degree programs in real estate. After a brief summary of each school, there's a comparison table contrasting the schools' training offerings and tuition rates.
Anne Arundel Community College
Students enrolling in this Arnold college have several non-credit real estate course options. Prospective real estate agents seeking prelicensing training can complete the real estate principles course that's approved by the Maryland Real Estate Commission. There are also a variety of CE classes for salespersons needing to renew their license, including fair housing, ethics and waterfront development. The college also offers home inspection and real estate appraisal programs, as well as real estate investing classes for the general public.
College of Southern Maryland
Located in La Plata, the workforce development division of this college offers a real estate salesperson prelicensing course. The course meets twice a week in the evenings for a little over two months. Upon completion of the course, students can apply for the state licensure exam. Those seeking real estate appraisal training have two course options, while consumers looking for advice on how to invest in real estate have two online course offerings.
Community College of Baltimore County
Through its continuing education and economic development division, Baltimore's Community College of Baltimore County has a real estate course that meets the state's 60-hour requirement for prelicensing preparation. The salesperson course examines topics like plat maps, Maryland real estate laws, real estate terminology, financing and deeds. Courses in real estate investing, Spanish for real estate and home inspection are also available, along with prelicensing and licensure renewal courses for real estate appraisers.
Frederick Community College
Students considering this public college in Frederick have the option of completing the prelicensing training to become Maryland real estate agents. At least a 70% passing rate is required in order to receive a certificate of completion from this class, which is part of the school's workforce development program offerings. Another training option is the school's home inspection course or online real estate investing class.
Hagerstown Community College
This Hagerstown college has numerous real estate CE courses ranging in topics like mold and reverse mortgages to property inspections and foreclosures. Potential real estate agents can complete the state-approved prelicensing course after 60 hours of classroom time. During the roughly 2-month course, students will meet twice a week in the evenings.
Johns Hopkins University
Established in 2007, the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University serves five campus locations in the Maryland-DC area, with the main campus being located in Baltimore. Graduate-level real estate classes are available through the Edward St. John Real Estate Program. Johns Hopkins University offers both a part-time and accelerated Master of Science in Real Estate and Infrastructure program.
Concentrations are available in areas such as real estate valuation and appraisal, real estate development, institutional real estate investments and international real estate. Students are also required to take a practicum in real estate, which provides a comprehensive look at the real estate curriculum. Focusing on their concentration area, students complete real estate analysis projects and fieldwork in or outside of Maryland; lecture classes and readings supplement the hands-on study.
Montgomery College
Rockville's Montgomery College has the 60-hour real estate prelicensing class required by the state for prospective real estate agents. The class is also available at the Gaithersburg Business Training Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Attendance is mandatory for each class, and a test will be issued at the end of the class. A variety of home appraisal and real estate continuing education classes are also available at the Rockville campus.
Prince George's Community College (PGCC)
Based in Largo, students can earn a Real Estate Letter of Recognition that includes courses in real estate finance and principles and practices for salespersons. Not only do these classes prepare students for the Maryland real estate licensure examination, but completed credits can be applied to PGCC's associate's in business management program with an emphasis in residential property management. Alternatively, the non-credit principles and practices course is available independently in preparation for the state licensing test. PGCC also offers a real estate appraisal program through its non-credit program offerings, as well as a real estate investing class and continuing education classes for real estate license renewal.
University of Baltimore
Located in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood of downtown Baltimore, the University of Baltimore began as a private university in 1925 before shifting over to a public institution in 1975. As of 2011, enrollment was about 6,400 students. The school offers a bachelor's program in real estate and economic development that is the sole undergraduate program in Maryland with the purpose of training students for careers in real estate. Required courses for graduation include statistical data analysis, real property law, property management and real estate finance. Students may also receive college credit for internships set up through the college's Merrick School of Business.
Wor-Wic Community College
Residents of the counties of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset, Maryland, can attend this Salisbury school. Each fall, Wor-Wic offers the real estate principles and practices course for those seeking preparation for the Maryland real estate licensing examination. Aside from this course, there are a number of continuing education classes for current real estate licensees and appraisers, along with real estate classes for those seeking an understanding of real estate law and investments.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Real Estate Programs Offered | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (2019-2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel Community College | 2-year, public; large suburb | Real Estate Principles course, Real Estate Salesperson License Renewal courses | $4,790 (in-district); $8,240 (in-state); $13,160 (out-of-state) * |
| College of Southern Maryland | 2-year, public; fringe rural | Real Estate Principles and Practices for Salesperson License course | $3,930 (in-district); $6,870 (in-state); $8,820 (out-of-state)* |
| Community College of Baltimore County | 2-year, public; large suburb | Real Estate Principles and Practices for Salespersons course, Real Estate Continuing Education courses | $4,354 (in-district); $7,292 (in-state); $10,464 (out-of-state)* |
| Frederick Community College | 2-year, public; small city | Principles and Practices of Real for Maryland course | $3,676 (in-district); $7,228 (in-state); $9,556 (out-of-state)* |
| Hagerstown Community College | 2-year, public; midsize suburb | Principles and Practices of Real Estate for Maryland course, Real Estate Continuing Education courses | $4,290 (in-district); $6,405 (in-state); $8,235 (out-of-state)* |
| Johns Hopkins University | 4-year, private not-for-profit; large city | Master of Science in Real Estate and Infrastructure | $55,350* |
| Montgomery College | 2-year, public; small city | Basic Real Estate Principles and Practices for Salespersons, Real Estate Continuing Education courses | $5,322 (in-district); $10,254 (in-state); $14,034 (out-of-state)* |
| Prince George's Community College | 2-year, public; large suburb | Real Estate Letter of Recognition, Real Estate Principles and Practices for Salespersons course Real Estate Continuing Education courses | $3,770 (in-district); $6,050 (in-state); $8,498 (out-of-state)* |
| University of Baltimore | 4-year, public; large city | Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and Economic Development | $9,096 (in-state); $21,456 (out-of-state)* |
| Wor-Wic Community College | 2-year, public; fringe rural | Real Estate Principles and Practices course, Real Estate Continuing Education courses | $3,336 (in-district); $6,240 (in-state); $7,704 (out-of-state)* |
Source: *NCES College Navigator
