7 best real estate schools in Illinois for 2026
If
you’re
looking
for
the
best
real
estate
schools
in
Illinois
to
complete
the
required
75
hours
of
class
time,
we’re
here
to
help.
Keep
in
mind
that
in
Illinois,
real
estate
agents
are
called
brokers,
and
an
upgraded
license
is
a
managing
broker
license.
Whether
you’re
looking
for
a
real
estate
school
to
get
a
broker
license
or
you’re
already
licensed
and
want
to
find
an
online
program
to
become
a
managing
broker,
there
are
many
Illinois
real
estate
schools
to
choose
from.
We’ll
help
you
make
an
informed
decision
and
find
the
right
real
estate
classes
to
best
fit
your
budget,
timeline,
learning
style
and
schedule.
Illinois
School
of
Real
Estate:
Best
for
aspiring
REALTORS®
Powered
by
the
Illinois
Association
of
REALTORS®,
the
Illinois
School
of
Real
Estate
is
an
excellent
option
for
soon-to-be
real
estate
agents
who
are
interested
in
getting
involved
in
the
board
of
REALTORS®.
The
state
branch
of
one
of
the
country’s
largest
trade
associations,
with
50,000
members
involved
in
nearly
every
aspect
of
real
estate
sales,
purchase,
exchange
or
lease
of
residential
or
commercial
property
in
Illinois.
Unlike
other
real
estate
schools,
Illinois
REALTORS®
is
also
the
only
advocate
for
private
property
rights
at
the
state
capitol
in
Springfield,
Illinois,
and
in
communities
across
the
state.
Illinois
REALTORS®
brings
this
background
in
advocacy,
education
and
ethics
for
real
estate
practitioners
to
the
courses
it
offers
students.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Scholarships
available
–
click
here -
Free
trial
period -
Guidance
on
choosing
a
sponsor
-
Pricier
than
other
schools -
No
refund
policy
or
guarantee
Features
-
Course
formats:
Self-paced,
live
online
and
in-person
classes
available -
Course
access:
Course
available
180
days
from
date
of
purchase -
Refund
policy:
N/A -
Guarantees:
N/A -
Exam
prep:
Instructor-led
exam
prep
webinar
and
modern
real
estate
practices
e-book
(available
with
$439
package
only) -
Student
support:
Ability
to
ask
questions
during
live
online
webinars -
Final
exam:
You
may
re-take
the
final
exam
up
to
three
times
if
you
do
not
pass
the
first
time
Pricing
If
you’re
looking
for
the
full
75-hour
required
course,
there
are
two
packages
available,
one
offering
a
bit
more
support
and
exam
prep
than
the
other.
-
Online
self-guided
pre-license
package
($389):
A
self-paced
option
for
more
independent
learners.
Includes
the
75-hour
class
with
a
free
trial
and
24/7
tech
support. -
Online
broker
pre-license
package
with
15-hr
webinar
($439):
Includes
a
combination
of
self-paced
and
instructor-led
courses,
a
live
exam
prep
webinar
with
an
instructor,
plus
a
textbook
or
ebook.
REALTORS®
Real
Estate
School:
Best
for
Chicago-area
licensees
Powered
by
the
Chicago
Association
of
REALTORS®,
this
real
estate
school
is
perfect
for
people
in
the
Chicagoland
area
looking
to
complete
their
real
estate
prelicensing
coursework
locally.
While
this
school
is
one
of
the
most
expensive
on
our
list,
having
the
option
to
take
your
classes
in
person
in
downtown
Chicago
makes
it
worth
it.
You
can
also
choose
a
fully
self-paced
or
webinar
version,
making
this
school
a
very
flexible
option.
Being
involved
in
your
local
board
of
REALTORS®
is
hugely
beneficial
(I
say
that
from
my
own
experience).
You’ll
quickly
grow
your
local
network
of
newly
licensed
agents,
be
able
to
support
each
other
and
potentially
even
do
deals
together.
Real
estate
can
be
a
lonely
business,
and
having
colleagues
who
could
turn
into
friends
is
important.
Choosing
a
local
real
estate
school
is
a
great
way
to
build
your
network
in
Chicago.
As
a
bonus,
students
can
attend
YPN
(Young
Professional
Network)
breakfast
events
for
free,
to
facilitate
getting
involved
and
meeting
other
agents
even
before
they
have
their
real
estate
license.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Scholarships
available
–
click
here -
Flexible
format
options
to
fit
your
schedule
-
Pricier
than
other
schools -
No
tutoring
services
Features
-
Course
formats:
Self-paced,
live
online
and
in-person
classes
available -
Course
access:
Online
and
self-study
courses
available
six
months
from
date
of
purchase -
Refund
policy:
(Classroom)
For
cancellations
five
or
more
days
prior
to
the
start
of
the
course,
the
refund
is
subject
to
a
10
percent
cancellation
fee.
For
cancellations
received
less
than
five
days
prior
to
the
start
of
the
course,
the
refund
is
subject
to
a
25%
cancellation
fee. -
(Online)
The
school
must
receive
written
notification
of
a
student’s
cancellation
within
seven
days
of
the
purchase
date
for
a
student’s
registration
to
be
eligible
for
a
refund.
All
refunds
are
subject
to
a
25%
cancellation
fee.
If
a
student
cancels
more
than
seven
days
after
the
purchase
date,
their
registration
fee
is
non-refundable. -
Guarantees:
N/A -
Exam
prep:
Exam
prep
course,
practice
exams,
flash
cards
and
study
aid
bundles
available -
Student
support:
Instructor
support
in
classroom
and
live
online
formats -
Final
exam:
N/A
Pricing
There
are
two
packages
available,
one
offering
a
bit
more
support
and
exam
prep
than
the
other.
Within
each
package,
students
can
choose
from
either
the
online
version
(at
a
lower
cost)
or
opt
for
the
classroom
in-person
course.
-
Standard
($610-$704):
Includes
75-hour
course,
flash
cards,
and
broker
exam
video
prep
series -
Premium
bundle
($699-$799):
Includes
standard
package
plus
exam
pro
and
broker
exam
prep
course
Colibri:
Best
for
getting
licensed
on
a
budget
Colibri
Real
Estate
is
a
licensed
real
estate
education
provider
in
Illinois
with
more
than
132
instructors
experienced
in
real
estate
sales
and
teaching
best
practices.
For
over
40
years,
more
than
520,000
students
have
enrolled
in
Colibri
to
complete
their
education
requirements
and
prepare
for
the
Illinois
real
estate
license
exam.
Colibri
offers
multiple
formats
for
taking
each
course,
enabling
you
to
choose
the
format
that
best
fits
your
lifestyle
and
learning
style.
In
addition
to
online
courses,
students
appreciate
that
the
prelicensing
course
comes
with
a
physical
textbook
to
read,
highlight,
and
reference
(included
in
the
Ultimate
Learning
package).
With
basic
courses
starting
at
just
$203,
Colibri
is
the
most
budget-friendly
option
on
our
list.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Pass
or
Don’t
Pay
Guarantee
-
Course
formats
cannot
be
mixed
and
matched -
No
in-person
classes
Features
-
Course
formats:
Self-paced
or
livestream -
Course
access:
Varies
from
3
days
to
6
months,
depending
on
which
package
students
choose -
Guarantees:
Colibri’s
Pass
or
Don’t
Pay
Guarantee
is
available
with
all
packages,
with
the
exception
of
The
Basics
package.
If
a
student
does
not
pass
the
Illinois
real
estate
license
exam
within
30
days
of
completing
Colibri’s
exam
prep
course,
the
school
will
reimburse
the
original
cost
of
either
your
prelicensing
package
or
the
exclusive
exam
prep
you
purchased
after
receiving
a
formal
reimbursement
request
via
email. -
Exam
prep:
Unlimited
practice
exams
and
flash
cards
are
provided
with
every
package
except
The
Basics -
Student
support:
Expert
local
instructors
are
available
to
answer
questions
by
phone
or
email -
Final
exam:
Must
score
a
minimum
of
75%
to
pass
Pricing
Colibri
offers
four
different
packages
to
fit
each
student’s
individual
preferences:
-
The
Basics
($203):
Includes
the
74-hour
course,
instructor
support,
study
guides
and
accessible
narrator
audio -
Exam
Preparation
($263):
The
Basics,
plus
simulated
exams,
flash
cards,
readiness
tracker
and
pass
or
don’t
pay
guarantee -
Exam
Preparation
Plus
($305):
Exam
Preparation,
plus
instructor
Q&A
and
exam
cram
webinar
series -
Ultimate
Learning
($371):
Exam
Prep
Plus,
plus
printed
textbook
and
career
booster
pack
Aceable
Agent:
Best
for
high
exam
pass
rates
Aceable
Agent
outpaces
the
competition
when
it
comes
to
their
students’
exam
pass
rates.
The
Illinois
state
average
is
a
60%
pass
rate,
while
Aceable
Agent
students
have
an
84%
pass
rate
on
the
first
try.
Formerly
Real
Estate
Institute,
Aceable
has
taken
the
trusted,
expert
content
and
repackaged
it
to
be
accessible
on
desktop,
tablet
and
mobile.
It
also
has
self-study
and/or
webinar
options,
which
allows
aspiring
brokers
to
be
flexible
with
their
learning
and
tailor
education
to
their
needs.
Aceable
is
one
of
the
few
real
estate
schools
that
provides
a
physical
textbook
and
a
30-day
satisfaction
guarantee
included
in
all
of
their
packages.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Private
tutoring
session
with
a
real
estate
expert
(Premium
package)
-
No
in-person
classes
Features
-
Course
formats:
Self-paced
or
livestreamed -
Course
access:
Course
available
for
six
months -
Refund
policy:
Full
refund
available
within
30
days
of
purchase -
Guarantees:
N/A -
Exam
prep:
Comprehensive
exam
prep
suite
includes:
practice
exams,
PrepAgent
access
for
three
months
(Premium
package) -
Student
support:
Livestream
Q&A
sessions
with
instructors
five
times
per
week
and
private
tutoring
sessions
(Premium
package) -
Final
exam:
The
state
charges
$58
per
attempt
Pricing
Aceable
Agent
has
two
packages
available
for
the
75-hour
pre-licensing
course.
Both
have
the
option
to
finance
your
purchase
through
Affirm,
for
students
who
wish
to
spread
out
their
payments,
as
well
as
a
30-day
satisfaction
guarantee.
-
Basic
($319):
A
self-paced
option
for
more
independent
learners.
Includes
the
75-hour
class
plus
instructor
support
via
text
and
email
and
both
a
printed
and
digital
textbook -
Premium
($479):
A
webinar
option
that
can
be
completed
in
as
little
as
three
weeks,
this
package
includes
livestreamed
sessions,
three
months
of
PrepAgent
access,
practice
exams,
Q&A
sessions
with
instructions
and
a
1:1
one-hour
tutoring
session
Kaplan:
Best
for
instructor
support
Kaplan
Real
Estate
Education
works
with
thousands
of
students
each
year,
equipping
them
with
the
education
and
tools
to
begin
and
advance
their
Illinois
real
estate
careers.
Students
appreciate
the
school’s
high-quality
prelicensing,
exam
prep
and
continuing
education
courses,
along
with
the
expert
instructors
who
lead
them.
The
school
offers
different
Illinois
prelicensing
packages
at
various
price
points,
ensuring
that
you
receive
a
unique
learning
experience
at
a
price
you
can
afford.
With
full
access
to
the
class
instructor,
Kaplan’s
online
prelicensing
courses
also
enable
you
to
complete
your
required
education
when
and
where
it
is
most
convenient
for
you.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Commitment
to
Pass
included
-
Zoom
account
required
for
live
online
classes -
No
in-person
classes
Features
-
Course
formats:
Self-paced
or
livestreamed -
Course
access:
Course
available
6
months
from
date
of
purchase -
Refund
policy:
Full
reimbursement
available
within
30
days
if
course
has
not
been
completed -
Guarantees:
If
you
do
not
pass
after
completing
our
program,
Kaplan
will
continue
to
support
your
studies
at
no
cost
to
you
through
the
Kaplan
Commitment.
The
instructors
will
help
you
create
a
personalized
study
plan,
and
you’ll
continue
to
have
access
to
the
exam
prep
tools
and
instructors
for
up
to
18
months
as
long
as
you
continue
your
studies. -
Exam
prep:
Comprehensive
exam
prep
included
state
and
national
laws,
plus
a
section
on
math -
Student
support:
Career
Mentor
Connect
allows
students
to
understand
a
“day
in
the
life”
of
a
real
estate
agent
Pricing
Both
packages
include
the
full
75-hour
required
course,
plus
Kaplan’s
Commitment
to
Pass.
-
Exam
Prep
Package
($489):
75-hour
course,
Commitment
to
Pass,
access
to
Kaplan’s
online
learning
hub
with
additional
study
materials,
exam
prep
videos
and
drill
and
practice
questions -
Career
Launcher
($889):
Includes
the
Exam
Prep
Package,
plus
real
estate
accelerator
online
course,
printed
textbooks
and
workbooks,
flashcards
and
math
online
video
course
Your
House
Real
Estate
Academy:
Best
for
in-person
classes
For
students
who
prefer
in-person
classes,
check
out
Your
House
Real
Estate
Academy.
With
over
40
years
of
real
estate
education
experience,
10,000
students,
and
25
locations
throughout
Illinois,
Your
House
stands
out
among
its
competitors.
They
also
offer
everything
you
will
need
throughout
your
career,
including
managing
broker
and
leasing
agent
pre-licensing
courses,
continuing
education
and
career
development
courses.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Includes
over
1,000
practice
questions
-
No
self-paced
option
for
the
full
75
hours -
Only
one
package
available
Features
-
Course
formats:
Live
online
and
in-person
classes
available -
Course
access:
Course
available
6
months
from
date
of
purchase -
Refund
policy:
N/A -
Guarantees:
N/A -
Exam
prep:
Access
to
online
portal
with
over
1,000
practice
exam
questions -
Student
support:
Periodic
review
opportunities
are
offered
for
$99
–
these
give
students
a
chance
to
come
together
in
person
and
review
the
material
with
instructors -
Final
exam:
Students
have
up
to
two
years
to
take
the
exam
Pricing
Two
options
to
choose
from,
one
offers
in-person
classes
and
the
other
is
entirely
virtual.
-
Virtual
class
($449):
75-hour
course
entirely
virtual.
60
hours
are
self-paced,
and
15
hours
are
webinar-format -
In-person
or
webinar
class
($599):
Includes
in-person
classes
and
live
online
webinar
classes,
plus
access
to
online
study
portal
The
CE
Shop:
Best
for
self-paced
study
According
to
The
CE
Shop,
its
prelicensing
student
satisfaction
rate
is
96%
and
students
have
a
higher-than-average
pass
rate
of
64%.
A
state-approved
real
estate
school
in
Illinois,
The
CE
Shop
consistently
updates
its
course
material
to
stay
on
top
of
industry
changes.
Students
find
the
school’s
interactive
teaching
approach
substantially
more
engaging
and
effective
than
simply
reading
a
PDF.
The
self-paced
format
makes
it
easy
for
students
who
are
independent
and
wish
to
move
through
the
coursework
at
their
own
pace.
The
CE
Shop
also
features
LEAP,
a
custom
online
learning
platform,
to
help
students
retain
key
content.
Pros
&
Cons
-
Free
5-day
trial
period
-
No
in-person
option -
Lack
of
access
to
live
instructors
Features
-
Course
formats:
Online,
interactive -
Course
access:
Course
available
six
months
from
date
of
purchase -
Refund
policy:
Full
refunds
for
courses
within
30
days
of
purchase,
provided
the
request
is
submitted
before
the
course
expires
and
the
course
is
less
than
50%
complete. -
Guarantees:
With
the
CE
Shop’s
“Pass
Guarantee,”
prelicensing
students
can
request
a
reimbursement
of
the
cost
of
the
initial
licensing
exam
if
a
retake
is
required. -
Exam
prep:
The
CE
Shop’s
Exam
Prep
Edge
courses
include
an
initial
assessment,
after
which
the
school’s
interactive
dashboard
guides
you
through
each
topic
while
gauging
your
competency.
The
course
also
prepares
students
for
the
licensing
exam
through
unlimited
practice
tests
with
unique
questions. -
Student
support:
Support
is
available
seven
days
a
week
via
phone,
chat
or
email -
Final
exam:
At
the
end
of
each
course,
there
is
a
final
to
ensure
that
you
have
read
and
retained
the
important
information.
Pricing
The
CE
Shop
offers
four
different
options
for
students
to
choose
from,
depending
on
how
much
additional
support
and
exam
prep
you’re
looking
for.
-
Courses
Only
($251):
A
basic
package
which
includes
the
required
75-hour
course
plus
business
ebooks,
career
resources,
downloadable
resources,
digital
flash
cards,
real
estate
glossary
and
study
schedule -
Standard
Package
($321):
Everything
in
the
courses
only
package,
plus
Exam
Prep
Edge
and
pass
guarantee -
Value
Package
($374):
Standard
package,
plus
three-month
kickstarter
professional
development
program -
Premium
Package
($570):
Value
package,
plus
45-hour
IL
post-licensing
package
and
essential
guide
to
real
estate
e-textbook
Methodology:
How
we
chose
the
best
online
real
estate
courses
in
Illinois
To
determine
the
very
best
Illinois
real
estate
schools,
we
conducted
extensive
research,
rating
each
school
based
on
the
following:
-
Affordability
and
flexibility -
Course
offerings,
including
study
tools
and
technology -
Course
access
and
format
options -
Instructor
expertise
and
accessibility -
Pass
rates
and
student
satisfaction -
Return
policies
or
pass
guarantees -
Student
support
and
engagement
Finally,
we
considered
each
school’s
unique
features
and
professional
development
opportunities,
which
can
be
of
lasting
value
to
real
estate
agents
like
yourself.
FAQs:
Best
real
estate
courses
in
Illinois
What
are
the
requirements
for
taking
the
Illinois
real
estate
salesperson
exam?
-
Complete
your
prelicensing
education
by
taking
an
approved
75-hour
course
that
includes
60
education
hours
and
15
interactive
hours. -
Meet
the
education
requirement
by
completing
the
course
and
passing
the
practice
exam.
Then,
take
and
pass
the
course’s
final
exam
with
a
minimum
score
of
75%. -
Obtain
required
documents
before
taking
(and
passing!)
the
Illinois
Real
Estate
Broker
Examination. -
Find
a
sponsoring
brokerage. -
Apply
for
your
Illinois
Real
Estate
Broker
License
with
the
Illinois
Department
of
Financial
and
Professional
Regulation. -
Start
your
exciting
career
in
real
estate!
Can
I
take
the
Illinois
real
estate
exam
online?
Yes,
there
are
proctored
online
exams
available,
as
well
as
traditional
in-person
exams.
How
long
is
the
Illinois
licensing
exam?
The
Illinois
Real
Estate
Licensing
exam
consists
of
multiple-choice
questions
and
is
based
on
the
75-hour
prelicensing
education.
The
exam
is
broken
out
into
two
sections:
The
state
portion
consists
of
40
multiple-choice
questions.
The
national
portion
of
the
exam
consists
of
100
multiple-choice
questions.
You
will
be
given
3.5
hours
to
complete
the
entire
Illinois
real
estate
licensing
exam.
How
much
does
real
estate
school
in
Illinois
cost?
The
cost
of
real
estate
school
in
Illinois
will
depend
upon
which
courses
you
choose
and
whether
you
select
add-on
products,
such
as
exam
prep
packages.
In
addition
to
start-up
expenses,
there
are
ongoing
costs
associated
with
practicing
real
estate
in
Illinois.
Here’s
what
to
budget
for:
-
Prelicensing
exam
coursework
=
$99
to
$599 -
License
application
fee
=
$125 -
Examination
fee
=
$58 -
Post-licensing
CE
coursework
=
$29.95
to
$299 -
Estimated
total
=
Between
$311
to
$1081
The
full
picture
Starting
a
new
career
in
real
estate
is
exciting!
Knowing
more
about
Illinois
real
estate
school
programs
and
offerings
means
you’re
well-positioned
to
pick
the
best
option
for
your
needs
and
goals.
At
Vetted,
we
want
to
help
you
kickstart
your
real
estate
career
and
succeed
down
the
road.
From
tips
on
choosing
the
right
school
for
your
real
estate
licensing
education
to
passing
the
state
real
estate
licensing
exam
and
succeeding
as
an
Illinois
real
estate
agent,
we’ve
got
your
back.
Helpful
links
