Real Estate at American Public University System

With a small cohort of graduates, American Public University System's online real estate associate's program shows promising first-year earnings of $43,251—matching the national median exactly. The debt load of $23,765 translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, meaning graduates earn roughly twice what they owe. Given that real estate is often a second-career field or supplemental to existing work, these numbers suggest the credential isn't weighing students down financially.

The catch? You're looking at data from fewer than 30 graduates, which means one or two outliers could significantly skew these figures either way. As the only institution offering this associate's degree in West Virginia, there's no state-level comparison to ground these results. The national percentiles (95th for both earnings and debt) are somewhat misleading since they're comparing this program to itself and a limited pool of similar programs nationwide.

For a parent whose child is genuinely interested in real estate, this program won't create burdensome debt. But the bigger question is whether an associate's degree is necessary at all—many states allow real estate licensing with just coursework and an exam, no degree required. If your student needs flexible online learning and wants a broader educational foundation beyond licensing requirements, this works. Otherwise, a direct licensing track might be more efficient.