Online Associate of Science degrees in real estate studies are offered by many fully accredited state community colleges. These two-year colleges are usually the least expensive option, and an associate degree in real estate can generally be completed in two years of full-time study. Such programs commonly incorporate the courses required for the state exam into their course of study along with general education requirements. Graduates from these programs are prepared to sit for the next state exam following graduation.
Online Bachelor of Science degrees in business, finance or economics are often offered with an emphasis or concentration in real estate studies. Programs offered by accredited colleges and universities prepare students for a broad range of business career options with the additional benefit of a specific area of concentration. Graduates with an emphasis in real estate may work in careers that are only tangentially related to real estate or they may work directly on complex real estate developments or investment trusts that require specific training both in real estate and in business, economics or finance.
Online Bachelor of Science degrees in real estate place a strong emphasis on real estate sales, management and development. While students may take one or two courses in business, finance or economics, the area of greatest concentration will be real estate studies. Graduates may select careers in areas such as real estate sales, real estate finance and property management.
Programs offering an online master's in real estate are offered by some accredited colleges and universities. For example, Marylhurst University in Oregon offers an online Accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in real estate studies. This degree provides a broad foundation in business, adding real estate studies as a specific area of concentration. The fully accredited Marylhurst program requires at least five years' work experience or a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in undergraduate studies for admittance to the program and the online degree is exactly the same as the one earned by on-campus students.