7 best real estate schools in San Diego (2026)

San Diego has more real estate schools than any one person has time to compare. The websites all promise the same things, so picking one comes down to format, price, and which program gets you past the state exam.

We did the comparison for you. This guide ranks the seven best options for a real estate school in San Diego using Google Reviews as the tiebreaker, because public reviews are the most honest picture of what students experience. You'll also learn how licensing works in San Diego and how to verify any school with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).

How do the San Diego real estate schools compare?

Here's the full comparison at a glance. US Realty Training is the only school on this list pairing local in-person classes with a full online program and post-licensing support.

1. US Realty Training (4.9 rating on Google Reviews)

US Realty Training is the best real estate school in San Diego because it combines local in-person classes, live online classes, and on-demand video with support that runs from your first class through job placement.

Weekly evening classes run at our Mission Valley training room, built for students who work during the day. Online students choose between on-demand video and scheduled live webinars. Trainers are working San Diego agents with over 50 years of combined experience.

Here's what one student, Alex Jeffries, said:

After years of life getting in the way and attempting on my own to get my license, the structure and curriculum of this school forced me to focus and complete the courses. I took a chance and signed up for their free intro night class. I immediately signed up for their 3 month courses, attended regular night classes, and used their state exam prep portal. These steps helped me pass and attain my real estate license within 6 months!

Pros:

• Try before you buy. A free introductory class plus a free trial of the student portal, no credit card required.
• Format choice. In-person, live webinar, or on-demand video. Pick what fits your learning style and schedule.
• Courses for every career stage. Pre-licensing, exam prep, broker licensing, and continuing education under one roof.
• Support past graduation. Student advisors during the course, then brokerage partner connections for job placement after you pass.

Cons: It's not the cheapest program on this list. Payment plans are available if cost is a barrier.

2. School of Real Estate

School of Real Estate ranks second as a locally founded San Diego program with some of the lowest prices on this list.

The school runs online courses plus in-person classes on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Silver and gold packages add audio lessons and vocabulary practice for studying on the go, and the local instructor can connect graduates with San Diego brokerages.

Pros: budget-friendly online pricing, a local in-person option, and audio learning in upper packages.

Cons: in-person classes run only two weeknights, some reviewers call the class format dry, and students have reported login problems with the online software.

3. Agent Real Estate Schools (Del Mar)

Agent Real Estate Schools ranks third with a flexible online program and optional in-person extras for San Diego students.

Formerly the KW Real Estate School, the program renamed in 2021 to serve all brokerages. The "fast track" option lets you move at your own pace, and local boot camps and study groups add in-person collaboration if you pay for the upgrade.

Pros: self-paced online coursework, Career Day webinars for the undecided, and a concierge-style support model.

Cons: in-person sessions and study groups cost extra on top of the online fee, and some reviewers say the online format left them teaching themselves.

4. Clare Institute

Clare Institute is one of San Diego's oldest real estate schools, founded by Kathy Clare in 1997.

The school moved from in-person classes to fully online courses delivered through a partnership with Chamberlin Real Estate School, which means toll-free support and instant grading. A one-day Zoom crash course runs monthly for exam prep.

Pros: decades of local reputation and a monthly live crash course.

Cons: all coursework comes from a third party rather than Clare Institute itself, the website is hard to navigate, and the program costs more than comparable online options.

5. Realty School 101

Realty School 101 is a California-wide online school with instant course access and a-la-carte signup.

You can start coursework the moment you enroll and pick individual courses instead of a package. Support runs 24/7. What's missing is anything local: no San Diego classes, no local instructors, and no brokerage connections in the county.

Pros: immediate access, flexible course selection, and round-the-clock support.

Cons: online only, with no San Diego presence or local network.

6. San Diego Real Estate License

San Diego Real Estate License is a CE Shop affiliate that pairs a strong national online platform with a local-sounding name.

The CE Shop's coursework is polished and frequently updated, and students who complete less than half the course within 30 days can claim a full refund. Like any national platform, though, there's no physical presence and no local brokerage pipeline.

Pros: robust online coursework, a money-back guarantee, and 24/7 customer service.

Cons: higher starting prices than budget competitors and no local connections.

7. EP Real Estate School

EP Real Estate School is an online-only option best suited to audio learners.

The school offers more than 20 hours of audio coursework covering vocabulary, lectures, and practice questions, plus live crash course sessions with instructors. The website, though, is outdated and doesn't list prices, which makes comparison shopping hard.

Pros: audio-first courses for studying in the car, and live crash course sessions.

Cons: an outdated website with no published pricing.

Honorable mention: Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate earns an honorable mention as a national online program with a pass-or-refund policy.

If you fail the state exam on your first try, Colibri refunds your pre-licensing or exam prep package, with terms and conditions attached. The trade-off is a bare-bones experience: no in-person classes, email-only instructor access, and no California broker program when you're ready to upgrade your license.

Pros: pass-or-refund policy and a mobile-friendly platform.

Cons: no in-person options, slower email-based instructor support, and no California broker program.

How do I get my real estate license in San Diego?

You get a real estate license in San Diego the same way you do anywhere in California: complete 135 hours of DRE-approved pre-licensing education, apply for the exam, and pass it. California issues one statewide license, so there is no separate San Diego license and your license works in every county.

According to the California DRE, the salesperson exam has 150 multiple-choice questions and requires 70% to pass. DRE pacing rules also set the timeline: no single 45-hour course in under 18 days and no more than two courses in any five-week period, which makes about 7.5 weeks the fastest possible finish. Our step-by-step California licensing guide covers the full process from enrollment to license.

How do I choose a real estate school in San Diego?

Choose a school by confirming DRE approval first, then matching the format to how you learn, and only then comparing price.

A DRE-approved school is a provider the California Department of Real Estate has authorized to offer the required 135 hours of pre-licensing education. If a school isn't in the DRE's course provider lookup, your hours won't count. Check that before anything else.

Then ask yourself:

• How do you learn best? Classroom learners should shortlist US Realty Training and School of Real Estate. Self-paced learners can consider any online program on this list.
• Do you want local connections? Schools with San Diego roots can introduce you to local brokerages, which matters more than most new students expect.
• What happens after the course? The license course gets you to the exam. Look for a school with exam prep and a pass guarantee, because the California real estate exam is where most students stumble.

Pick your school and get moving

Every school on this list can deliver the 135 hours. The difference is everything around those hours: the instructors, the formats, the exam prep, and the local network waiting on the other side. If you're still weighing the career itself, read our honest take on the pros and cons of becoming a real estate agent first.

Ready to start? Try US Realty Training before you spend a dollar.

Start the California pre-licensing course