- Overview
- Accreditations
- A Look Inside the Courses
- Customer Service & Support
- Reviews & Student Testimonials
- Cost
- The Winner
Not all real estate schools are created equal. And when deciding which school is going to shape the entire future of your career, it is imperative to do your research.
A real estate school that works with your needs is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful career. Quality of support, course availability, education structure, pass rate, and completion time are just a few factors to consider when choosing a real estate school.
There is so much information about each school available that it is easy to become overwhelmed and confused. This article focuses on two of the leading real estate schools in Colorado. We compare these two schools side-by-side, so you know which courses and education is best for you.
1. Overview
VanEd
Since 1997, VanEd Real Estate School has been a trusted real estate education provider. Their courses are 100% online-based. Students have access to their coursework anytime and can complete their modules anywhere. This model is attractive to students who have full-time jobs or busy personal lives. Students take the course at their own pace.
They offer education for agents, brokers, and appraisers within the industry. Their courses include the following:
- Real estate licensing
- Real estate license exam prep
- Continuing Education for Agents & Brokers
- GRI Designation
- Appraisal licensing
- Appraisal continuing education
- Appraisal license exam prep
- Mortgage broker license
This wide variety of courses makes VanEd an ideal school for real estate agents who plan to stay in the real estate industry. The VanEd student portal keeps track of all the courses students take in one place. After licensing, students can take CE courses or advance their career through taking broker or appraiser courses on a familiar platform.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy features of VanEd is the customer service support team. Reviews mention the helpfulness of this staff repeatedly. The support staff is a team of dedicated real estate instructors who have years of experience in the real estate industry. This staff is available to students for anything ranging from technical support to coursework assistance.
VanEd offers a 35% off discount to new pre-license students at all times and a 40% discount to veterans and active military personel.
Kaplan
Kaplan has provided education for over 80 years. Their online education offers programs for many different areas. They teach SAT prep for high school students, languages, career advancement in various fields, and many other programs. Kaplan real estate school has pre-license, post-license, appraisal, home inspection, contracting, and professional development courses. They have education for students in just about every state.
Kaplan offers different kinds of education formats. Their three formats are live classroom, online, and home-study. These courses give options for students to either complete their education online or in person.
Kaplan offers a live interactive study group every week and a career mentorship course twice a month for students who desire interaction with their studies. This interactivity is an advantage to students who enjoy collaborating with others and learning from other people within their course.
2. Accreditations
VanEd
All of VanEd’s courses are accredited and meet the requirements of each state. Some major accreditations include:
- IDECC
- ARELLO
- REEA
- CDEI
- RAPDD
- Approvals in each state
Complete list of VanEd Real Estate School Accreditations
Kaplan
Kaplan courses are all approved by the state where a course is hosted. There are no other mentions of accreditation on the site. On each state course page, find the accreditation under the course chart.
3. A Look Inside the Courses
VanEd
VanEd’s courses are interactive and text-based and can be accessed 24/7 from any device. The courses are available as a downloadable PDF for students to study anywhere they choose. Students complete courses online at their own pace. This means that courses can be completed as fast as several weeks or as slow as 12 months.
VanEd also offers a highly-organized and effective Learning Management System (LMS). Their courses contain videos, infographics, various interactive exercises, intuitive navigation, course progress reminders, flashcards, quizzes, and the ability for students to take notes and save them to their account.
VanEd has several videos that show the courses from inside the student portal. Take a sneak peek into what the student portal looks like by viewing the below video.
One of VanEd’s most popular real estate courses is in the Colorado market. This next video shows an overview of the Colorado course, but other courses have a similar structure.
Kaplan
Kaplan offers three different study formats for students who enjoy learning in different ways: Live Online Instruction, OnDemand Video Instruction, and TextBook Home Study. This variety of learning methods allows students to learn by watching videos, asking questions in real-time, or reading through their studies.
Students must complete their courses within six months. This is important to consider when purchasing a course. VanEd gives students access to their course for 12 months; twice as long as Kaplan offers.
Here is a thorough overview of Kaplan’s course offerings:
The Home Study: This structure allows students to download PDF files for studying at their own pace using a text-based format. Exams are still part of this course, but there is minimal interaction. Although it is tagged as the home study method, students can access their information and study from anywhere at any time.
Live Online: Live online courses have a fixed schedule. This e-learning class is similar to any online school and involves a teacher presenting information in real-time. This package allows students to interact with other students and their instructor.
OnDemand: This version of Kaplan’s courses gives students access to pre-recorded lectures. Students can access, pause and rewatch videos any time.
Here is a peek inside Kaplan’s online courses:
4. Customer Service & Support
VanEd
VanEd offers students the ability to speak directly with a knowledgeable instructor. VanEd instructors are successful real estate professionals who now teach students how to find success in the industry. Having instructors who know the industry and understand the exams is a huge advantage.
All instructors are practicing professionals with many years of experience in real estate and appraisal. The VanEd instructors are available during the workweek by phone or email.
The online Q&A system lets you contact instructors by email and browse through a well-organized collection of previously posted student questions and instructor answers.
Kaplan
Kaplan has a support staff available who can help potential students pick out the best course package for them or answer any questions about the courses.
Kaplan has weekly study sessions for students to interact with other students and instructors. Here, students can ask questions and have discussions. This interaction is helpful for those who enjoy study groups.
Kaplan hosts a career development course twice a month. This course allows students to understand their future careers better and listen to stories from those with real estate experience.
5. Reviews & Student Testimonials
The most critical opinions to consider when looking for a real estate school are ratings from current and past students. Here are what recent students had to say about these two schools in Google.
VanEd
VanEd Real Estate School has received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 167 students.
Kaplan
Kaplan Real Estate School has received an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars from 19 students.
6. Cost
Cost is an essential factor in real estate school. Understanding what you are paying for is essential for finding a product that is both valuable and affordable. Remember, this is a one-time schooling price you will pay. Splurging on a school that will provide everything you need is an excellent option for those who can afford it.
Be aware of inexpensive real estate schools as they may not offer quality or updated information and may not come with materials. Prices for real estate schools differ in each state. Because each state has different licensing requirements, prices vary in each state.
VanEd
| VanEd Colorado Real Estate Course Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 168-Hour Essentials | 168-Hour Advantage | 168-Hour Premium |
| $356.85 | $421.85 | $486.85 |
35% Off with Code CAREER35 at Checkout
Use Code CAREER35 to get 35% Off Any Pre-License Course or Package at VanEd.
VanEd Colorado pre-license courses offer three different packages priced according to the features and extras each package includes. The three packages are essentials, advantage, and premium. Every package consists of a complete education, payment plans, live customer service, and live instructor support. In select states, the courses include exam prep, exam pass money-back guarantee, and free trials. Extras for the advantage and premium packages are found in the following chart:
Even though prices vary in each state, VanEd hits the middle mark at their base pricing. However, they are constantly offering significant discounts that make their school extremely affordable.
Kaplan
| Kaplan Colorado Real Estate Course Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home Study | OnDemand | Live Online |
| $599 | $799 | $899 |
Kaplan’s course prices range from average to expensive depending on which package you choose. The most expensive package is the Live Online package. The least expensive package is the Home Study packages, which are set at a competitive price compared to other real estate schools. Kaplan offers some sales throughout the year. Sales do not occur not often.
VanEd vs Kaplan: The Bottom Line
VanEd Real Estate School is the winner and the best online real estate school in Colorado for those interested in a long career in real estate. Students having 24/7 course access, a phenomenal team of professionals as a resource, and education available for the next steps in their real estate career sets VanEd apart from Kaplan.
However, Kaplan is a great alternative school for those interested in learning in-person or exploring the home-study option. Their education courses in alternative real estate fields set them apart for those looking for a real estate career in home inspection or contracting.
Written and Published by: VanEd
