6 best Michigan real estate schools for 2024

The CE Shop’s prelicensing courses meet Michigan’s 40-hour course requirements.

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Upgrade Features

Prelicensing
$209
Course Only: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework, Business Ebooks, Career Resources, downloadable resources, digital flashcards, real estate glossary, study schedule
Standard Package: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework, business eBooks, Career resources, downloadable resources, digital flashcards, real estate glossary, study schedule & Exam Prep Edge (National and MI)

See options listed below

Broker Prelicensing
$699
Brokerage Package: Required 90 hrs of MI coursework with math handbook, including Michigan Broker Prep, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, Valuation of Residential Properties
Premium Package: Required 90 hrs of MI coursework with math handbook, including Michigan Broker Prep, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, Valuation of Residential Properties + 14-Hr. CE Package

The CE Shop offers several prelicensing packages in addition to the one listed above:

Value: All Standard Features + Business Building Courses
Premium: All Value Features + 18-Hour MI Renewal Package + Real Estate Principles & Practices eTextbook

Pros:

Free five-day trial of the Michigan Prelicensing courses
Option to complete prelicensing education in as little as one wee

Cons:

Lack of access to live instructors

Course Formats: Self-paced, online interactive.

Course Access: The CE Shop’s prelicensing courses expire six months after the date of purchase.

Refund Policy: Through the CE Shop’s Money-Back Guarantee, you may be eligible for money back within 30 days of your purchase, as long as your course is less than 50% complete.

Student Support: Support is available seven days a week via live chat, email, and phone.

Exam Prep: The CE Shop offers Exam Prep Edge, a comprehensive, interactive class, with standard, value, and premium prelicensing packages. Exam Prep Edge includes dynamic practice exams with unique prep questions and a real-time dashboard to help you focus on areas where you need the most improvement.

Final Exam: Prelicensing courses include a final exam, which must be passed with a minimum of 70%. If you don’t score that high the first time around, don’t fret – You may take the course final as many times as necessary until you pass.

AceableAgent

Best Michigan real estate school for self-paced study

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Visit Aceable Agent

Overview

To design engaging, informative online Michigan real estate license courses, AceableAgent enlisted Harvard education specialists. The result is courses that feature videos, interactive games, bite-sized lessons, and more. According to the school, its students have an 80% Michigan exam pass rate. Students appreciate an alternative to an in-person classroom setting that allows them to study at their own pace, and stop and restart as needed. They are also impressed by how the interactive course material helps with retention.

Course Options

Self-paced online

See Details

AceableAgent’s prelicensing classes are Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)-approved and meet Michigan’s 40-hour course requirements.

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Upgrade Features

Prelicensing
$179
Basic: Required 40 hrs of coursework. Lite Exam Prep w/ practice questions. Mini course on starting your career by finding a sponsoring broker. Fully narrated audio guide for all lessons
Deluxe: All Basic features + PrepAgent State Exam Prep, including 75 videos, 70 audio lessons, digital flashcards, practice questions & Prep Ebook w/ over 100 pages

Premium: All Deluxe features + private tutoring, 5 live webinars a week, access to webinar archives & live Q&A every Friday

Professional Development Training
$26
Neighborhood Expert” Video Course on farming neighborhoods, generating new leads, avoiding key mistakes & more
Proven Path Course teaches formula-based model for career success, including methods to practice, leveraging your business & building a pipeline of quality leads

Listing Appointments” Course Includes listing appointment steps & stats, listing price & commissions terms, and speaking prospects’ language

Pros:

Access courses anywhere, any time with Apple devices, Android devices, laptops, and desktop computers.
Unlimited attempts to pass your course final exam.

Cons:

No post-licensing CE courses offered.

Course Formats: Self-paced online.

Course Access: One year from the date of enrollment.

Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee: If you don’t pass the Michigan licensing exam after three attempts, AceableAgent will refund your money.

Student Support & Engagement: Instructors are available Monday through Friday to answer students’ questions by phone or email. If you need information about licensing or using your Aceable account, the Student Concierge Team can also be contacted five days a week.

Exam Prep: The Basic Prelicensing package features Exam Prep, including 1,000 unique exam practice questions, while the Deluxe and Premium packages’ packages’ Exam Prep include 1,660+ additional state and national practice exam questions.

Final Exam: After you complete Level 19 of the prelicensing course, you will be prompted to take your closed-book course final exam. You’ll have two hours to complete the final exam and you’ll need to score 70% to pass (that’s 28 out of 40 questions).

Colibri Real Estate

Best Michigan real estate school for affordability

Overall Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Visit Colibri Real Estate

Overview

In 2007, Colibri added real estate continuing education to its portfolio. Since then, the education provider has helped over one million real estate professionals annually by providing custom education and resources to thousands of brokerages, schools, and other organizations. Students appreciate that Colibri’s learning formats make it easy to stay organized, stop and restart lessons, keep track of tasks, and stick to a study schedule.

Course Options

Self-paced

Livestream classes

See Details

Colibri’s prelicensing courses meet meet Michigan’s 40-hour course requirements.

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Upgrade Features

Prelicensing Self-Paced Packages
$115
The Basics: Required 40 hrs of coursework. Includes 3 study guides, streamlined course navigation, and 800+ new visual learning objects & videos
Exam Preparation: All Features of The Basics + CompuCram Exam Prep, including simulated exams, flashcards, readiness assessment & audio review guides

Exam Preparation Plus: All Features of Exam Prep + Live Q&A with local instructors and exam Crammer Webinar series

Ultimate Learning: All Features of Exam Prep Plus + Career Booster Pack, including over 20 “how-to” videos, new agent job aids, customizable action plan templates, buyer and seller checklists & printed textbook

Prelicensing Livestream Packages
$422
Livestream Tue/Thurs Evenings: Required 40 hrs of coursework. Scheduled livestream classes led by local instructors, instructor and peer engagement, comprehensive exam prep by CompuCram & hard-copy textbooks
Livestream Mon-Fri Full Days: All features of Tue/Thur package

Exam Prep
$115
Exam Prep: Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, and CompuCram Exam Prep, including simulated exams, flashcards, readiness assessment & audio review guides
Exam Prep Live: All Features of Exam Prep w/ audio playback + Live Q&A with local instructors and Exam Crammer Webinar series

Pros:

An array of course formats to choose from, including self-paced classes and livestream packages
Courses can be accessed with any device or operating system

Cons:

Continuing education courses are also not available in Michigan
Not possible to mix and match online and livestream classes

Course Formats: Self-paced or livestream classes, depending on which course you choose.

Course Access: Six months from your registration date, in most cases.

Pass Guarantee: The state of Michigan does not permit guarantees to passing the real estate licensing exam. As such, students are not eligible for Colibri’s “Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee.”

Student Support & Engagement: Support is available via chat, email, or phone during normal business hours. Those enrolled in a prelicensing livestream course can take advantage of additional instructor and peer support, engaging with peers and asking instructors your real estate questions during class time.

Exam Prep: Colibri’s CompuCram exam prep feature has helped over 500,000 students prepare for their real estate license exam. This program prepares you for topics found on your Michigan State exam, providing inside knowledge of what’s covered and proprietary mastery methods.

Other Courses: Required Michigan real estate continuing education courses for license renewals are offered through Colibri’s sister school, McKissock Learning.

Michigan Institute of Real Estate

Best Michigan real estate school for hands-on learning in a classroom

Overall Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Visit Michigan Institute of Real Estate

Overview

Established in 1985, the Michigan Institute’s courses were created to teach students everything they need to know to pass the Michigan Real Estate Licensing Exam. The school’s 40-hour prelicensing course is a popular option for students who learn best in a hands-on environment with an instructor and other students. Although the course options aren’t presented in the clearest manner on the website, students appreciate the options. They especially appreciate the in-person instruction and one-on-one Q&A of the traditional class offering.

Course Options

Online

Virtual

Classroom

Home-study

See Details

The Michigan Institute’s prelicensing courses meet Michigan’s 40-hour course requirements. The school’s post-licensing courses meet Michigan’s 18-hour post-licensing continuing education requirement, which must be completed by the deadline for your license renewal.

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Upgrade Features

Prelicensing Online
$295
Basic Online: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Includes textbook (PDF), free 6-hr class, audio narrated slides, mobile capability for iPhone/iPad/tablets, coaching session & Cram Course
Premium Online: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Includes Exam Prep program w/ 1200+ practice questions, textbook (print and PDF), free 6-hr class, audio narrated slides, mobile capability for iPhone/iPad/tablets, coaching session & Cram Course

Prelicensing Classroom & Virtual
$355
Classroom: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Includes in-class instruction with traditional teaching method, PDF book, textbook, multiple-choice and true/false questions, math sheet, word matches, fill in the blank prep questions, access to 8 webinar recordings, and free 6-hr CE class. Choose from designated dates / times and locations. Day and evening courses available
Virtual, Prepaid: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. All features of the classroom course, in a remote setting. Choose from designated dates / times. Day and evening courses available

Prelicensing Home Study
$349
Basic Home Study: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Includes free 6-hr class, course textbook, audio digital CDs, coaching session & Cram Course
Premium Home Study: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Includes Exam Prep program w/ 1200+ practice questions, Math Made Easy digital DVD, vocabulary flashcards, free 6-hr class, course textbook, audio digital CDs, coaching session & Cram Course

Broker Prelicensing Self-Paced
$349
Home Study: Required 90 hrs of coursework. Self-paced. Study with materials in hand. Includes 3 courses (30 credit hrs each), book, exam/scantron & unlimited retakes
Online: Required 90 hrs of coursework. Includes mandatory 30-hr Broker Test Prep in class & 60 hrs after passing the exam via online/home study option

Broker Prelicensing Classroom & Virtual
$355
Classroom Prepaid: Required 90 hrs of coursework. Includes course materials for Appraisal Concepts 1 & Broker Test Prep. Choose from designated dates / times and locations. Day and evening courses available
Virtual Prepaid: Required 90 hrs of coursework. All features of the Classroom course, in a remote setting

Post-Licensing CE
$39.99
Online: Required 6 hrs of 1st-yr renewal coursework. Audio narrated classes. Choose from 4 hr elective (Court Cases + Reports) & 2 hr legal update & more
Virtual: Required 6 hrs of 1st-yr renewal coursework. Live class via Zoom on designated dates / times. Includes recent court case reviews, FBI updates & 2 hour legal update

Home Study: Required 6 hrs of 1st-yr renewal coursework. Choose from 3 hr legal update + 3 hr NAR Code of Ethics & more

Pros:

Enroll in a prelicensing class and your first 6 Hour CE class is FREE
For the prelicensing class, walk-ins are welcome

Cons:

No pass guarantee offered

Course Formats: Online, virtual, classroom, or home-study live webinar courses available.

Course Discounts: Students who enroll in and pay for a prelicensing class at least five days before the date of the first class can receive a discount. Students are also permitted to retake the 40-hour salesperson course within 12 months of graduation at no charge, as a refresher.

Refund Policy: A refund will be granted if a cancellation request, in writing, is received at least three business days from when you register for a course. The school will deduct a $25 fee and no refunds will be granted after the start date of the course.

Student Support & Engagement: For support, call during hours of operation to reach the Southfield staff or reach via live chat. You can also send a submission form and the school will respond to your message within 24 hours.

Exam Prep: Michigan Institute offers several exam prep bundles that can be purchased separately. For instance, you can purchase the CompuCram package, a mobile and tablet-friendly offering that includes vocab to study, practice tests, and simulated exams.

Final Exam: Michigan may require that with ceratina courses, an exam must be passed for completion. For instance, with Michigan Institute’s home study programs, an exam will be mailed to your home, which you will need to complete and return by mail.

NCI Associates

Best Michigan real estate school for accelerated learning

Overall Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Visit NCI Associates

Overview

Since 1979, NCI Associates has prided itself on only focusing on Michigan real estate law and practice. A LARA-approved education provider, NCI has decades of real estate continuing education experience and outstanding course material. New and veteran agents appreciate NCI’s cutting edge content, keeping them abreast of the industry’s latest and most up-to-date legal and ethical standards. What’s more, NCI excels at developing and presenting unique programs that maximize the ratio of instruction time to actionable results.

Course Options

Live webinar

In-person

Online, self-paced

See Details

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Additional Packages

Prelicensing
$305
Live Webinar: Via Zoom. Required 40 hrs of coursework. Choose from 1-week accelerated or 5-week night class on designated dates /times. Includes textbooks with practice exams + diagnostics, exam-taking strategies, helpful examples & 2 exams during the course
In-person: Required 40 hrs of coursework. Choose from designated dates /times & locations. Includes textbooks with practice exams + diagnostics, exam-taking strategies, helpful examples & 2 exams during the course

Online, Self-paced: Required 40 hrs of coursework. Includes textbooks with practice exams + diagnostics, exam-taking strategies, helpful examples & 2 exams during the course. Also includes access to a 42-pg Exam Prep Study Tool workbook

Post-Licensing CE
$50
Live Webinar via Zoom: Required 6 hrs of renewal coursework, including legal.
Includes multiple hotline-style Q&A and a download of the materials. Choose from designated dates /times
In-Person, Classroom: Required 6 hrs of renewal coursework, including legal. Includes multiple hotline-style Q&A and a booklet. Choose from designated dates /times & locations

Online, self-paced: Required 6 hrs of renewal coursework, including legal. Narrated course includes multiple hotline-style Q&A and a download of the materials

Pros:

40-hour requirement can be completed in the Pre Live webinar, a 1-week accelerated class
Livestream, in-person, and self-study options are offered

Cons:

The Broker’s prelicensing courses are only offered in-person or livestream

Course Formats: Live webinar, in-person, or online, self-paced.

Missed Session Policy: A certificate of completion cannot be issued until all class sessions have been attended and a passing score earned on any in-class exams. But as an NCI student, you can make up any missed sessions within six months of the original start date of the class.

Pass Guarantee: According to Michigan State guidelines, no school can guarantee that its student will pass the state exam. NCI does work to increase students’ chances of passing the exam by offering you industry-leading instruction and materials.

Student Support & Engagement: NCI aims to reply to all messages received within 24 hours or sooner! For support, you can call NCI during normal business hours or use the convenient online submission form.

Exam Prep: Exam prep is available as a live webinar via Zoom and includes instructor-led review of key topics from the Michigan Real Estate Law & Practice–Test Prep Outline & Glossary. Choose from designated dates /times. Or take a more traditional approach with the in-person classroom option, which is also instructor-led. There are also designated dates/times for the in-person class.

Final Exam: Students who enroll in NCI’s real estate license training class must successfully complete an in-class mid-term and final exam to receive a certification of completion. As an NCI student, you can retake an exam within six months of the original start date of the class.

RealEstateU

Best Michigan real estate school for setting your own pace

Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Visit RealEstateU

Overview

Founded in 2013, RealEstateU has been offering comprehensive state-approved programs for over a decade, and is ARELLO and LARA approved. RealEstateU allows students to earn a real estate license from anywhere, anytime, using a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Students are especially appreciative of being able to take the course from home, at hours they choose, rather than taking off work for an in-person class. In addition, RealEstateU is actively expanding its library of online salesperson classes and continuing education to better accommodate the 225,000+ students who enroll in RealEstateU courses.

Course Options

Online, self-paced

See Details

RealEstateU’s prelicensing courses meet Michigan’s 40-hour course requirements.

Course Type
Prices Starting at
Package Features
Upgrade Features

Prelicensing
$149
Course Only: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework. Self-paced. on-demand lessons
Course + Study Guide + e-Textbook: Required 40 hrs of MI coursework.
Incluses State Exam Study Guide e-Textbook with course content, infographics, key terms & moreCourse + Study Guide + Book + $100k Blueprint: All Study Guide Course features + Blueprint to $100k/yr with tips on closing deals & earning income

Pros:

Take each course at your own pace, anytime
Use any device to access the entire training

Cons:

No CE or Broker prelicensing courses offered