Real Estate Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of property markets, investment, development, and management.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$90K
salary
ROI Payback
4 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Real Estate Overview
Study of property markets, investment, development, and management.
Category
Business
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
72%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
15%
Lifetime Premium
$700K
Female Graduates
35%
Real Estate Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$683,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($700,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Real Estate Salary Progression
Common Real Estate Careers
Real Estate Analyst
Property Manager
Commercial Broker
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Real Estate
#1
NYU
#2
University of Wisconsin
#3
Penn State
#4
USC
#5
University of Florida
Related Majors
Real Estate Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Real Estate Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for real estate programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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