Compare 28 Real Estate. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $81,264. Top programs: $143,977+.
Real Estate programs produce graduates earning between $62,817 and $143,977—an $81K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 28 ranked programs nationally, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation. The school with the highest-earning real estate graduates isn't necessarily the most selective, and that gap is too large to ignore.
Topping the list, USC's Real Estate program delivers $143,977 in median graduate earnings—nearly $63K above the $81,264 national average across all 28 programs. Villanova (#2, $131,911) and NYU (#3, $130,716) follow closely, but the more telling story is Wisconsin-Madison at #4: a public university producing graduates at $120,483, outpacing dozens of private institutions with far higher sticker prices.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. USC graduates borrow $18,000 in student loans and face just a 2.0% payment burden, landing firmly in the 'Excellent' category. For families factoring in parent loans, USC's combined debt of $49,803 still produces a 6.2% family burden—also 'Excellent'—making it the rare program where elite outcomes and manageable debt coexist. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $143,977
Strong outcomes ($99,583) with 81% acceptance rate
2.0% payment burden | Excellent
6.2% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $143,977 | 41 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Excellent | |
| #2 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $131,911 | 41 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Good |
| #3 | New York UniversityPrivate | $130,716 | 58 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Manageable |
| #4 | $120,483 | 186 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Excellent | |
| #5 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $103,547 | 78 | $21,500 | Excellent | $54,925 | Manageable |
| #6 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $99,583 | 46 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Manageable |
| #7 | $95,576 | 112 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Good | |
| #8 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $94,027 | 5 | $23,000 | Excellent | $50,786 | Manageable |
| #9 | $91,213 | 50 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #10 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $90,764 | 45 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #11 | University Of DenverPrivate | $87,026 | 36 | $21,844 | Excellent | $27,813 | Good |
| #12 | $84,558 | 56 | $21,500 | Excellent | $31,393 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $83,592 | 42 | $19,691 | Excellent | $17,670 | Good | |
| #14 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $80,900 | 108 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Good |
| #15 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $78,372 | 129 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #16 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $78,044 | 107 | $22,940 | Excellent | $56,559 | Challenging |
| #17 | $72,063 | 45 | $18,190 | Excellent | $16,036 | Good | |
| #18 | $71,473 | 30 | $19,250 | Excellent | $23,211 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Temple UniversityPublic | $65,650 | 17 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Challenging |
| #20 | $62,817 | 45 | $20,500 | Excellent | $13,859 | Manageable | |
| #21 | Georgia State UniversityPublic | $62,120 | 37 | $20,903 | Excellent | $14,837 | Manageable |
| #22 | $60,718 | 18 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,585 | Manageable | |
| #23 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $58,575 | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| #24 | $54,061 | 7 | — | — | — | — | |
| #25 | $49,283 | 29 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
