Allied Schools vs VanEd…
To be sure, both provide all the benefits of online learning — you get to study anytime, anywhere, on any device.
Plus, both schools are reliable and offer high-quality education.
But which is the better online real estate school?
The answer will all depend on YOU.
This is why, here, we’re going to give you a complete Allied Schools vs VanEd comparison review. This way, you can see which provider has what you need and want.
So shall we begin?
Allied Schools vs VanEd – A Side-by-Side Comparison
We’ll help you determine the “better” school by looking at 5 important factors, namely:
- Availability
- Course options
- User experience
- Features
- Reviews
Before we get into the details, check the table below for an overview.
| Allied Schools | VanEd | |
| Available in (Pre-Licensing): | 1 state (CA) | 14 states (AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, MO, MT, NE, NY, OK, SC, TX, VA, WA) |
| Course Options: | Pre-Licensing, Exam Prep, Continuing Education, and License Upgrade | Pre-Licensing, Post-Licensing, Exam Prep, and Continuing Education |
| User Experience: | Different learning format Easy to navigate Great customer support Instructor support Few tech issues | Easy-to-follow lessons Well-organized layout Experienced instructors A few bugs and glitches |
| Pricing (CA)*: | $199 – $299 – $399 – $449 | $100 – $160 |
| Reviews: | 4.4/5 stars on Indeed | 4.3/5 stars on Indeed |
| Features: | Downloadable ebooks Practice exam Live instructor access Digital flashcards Visual learning videos Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee CE+ Membership | Flexible payment plans Online chat support Free e-books and workbooks Flashcards Instructor Q&A sessions |
*Prices based on CA pre-licensing as of Dec. 2022
Now, let’s look at the details.
Availability
Allied Schools puts all its focus on California. So if you’re not from there, then VanEd is the better school for you.
But if you do live in the state, then you can enjoy the pre-licensing, exam prep, CE, and license upgrade courses.
VanEd, on the other hand, has better availability.
For pre-licensing, it offers this to 14 states (see state list above). The other course options are a bit more limited, with CE offered in 9 states, and post-licensing and exam prep in 6 states.
Overall, both Allied Schools and VanEd don’t have the best availability. Still, if you’re from any of the states they serve, then this shouldn’t be a problem.
Course Options
Here are all the course options you can select with Allied Schools:
- Pre-Licensing
- Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
- License Upgrade
- Mortgage Pre-Licensing
- Mortgage Continuing Education
- Mortgage Exam Prep
And here are all the course options from VanEd:
- Pre-Licensing
- Exam Prep
- Post-Licensing
- Continuing Education
- GRI Designation
- Appraisal Pre-Licensing
- Appraisal Continuing Education
Besides real estate, Allied Schools’ other specialty is on mortgages, while VanEd also has courses for GRI (Graduate REALTOR Institute) and appraisal.
With all this, you’re likely to find the course that you’re looking for.
User Experience
Probably one of the most important aspects of online learning is the user experience.
Well, Allied Schools’ user experience is impeccable, with little in the way of you and your lessons.
Its UI is very easy to navigate and access your lessons. You can effortlessly pick up from where you left off, and go through the course materials with ease.
And you’re not left alone. Allied Schools provide live instructor access if you need help understanding the material.
Not great at self-study? Then you’ll be happy to know that there are Livestream classes available, too. That’s right, you can study from the comfort of your home, but with the benefits of a classroom environment.
VanEd has also perfected its UI.
You will hardly experience annoying bugs and glitches. In turn, you’ll be able to glide through your lessons.
What’s more, all the lessons are so easy to follow thanks to its organized layout. You won’t meet blocks of text here. Instead, you get bite-sized lessons, images, videos, and even quizzes to keep you engaged.
Also, you’re being taught by experienced instructors. VanEd boasts 100+ years of combined instructor experience. You can trust that you’re learning from the best of the best.
Features
Besides the required coursework, what other features can you expect from both online real estate schools?
Allied Schools offers 3 packages, each one with even more features than the last.
Its starting plan, called the Career Program, comes with all the bare essentials — all your pre-licensing courses, downloadable ebooks, practice exams, and live instructor access.
The second plan, called the Career Premium Program, has additional Exam Cram Webinars and Videos, digital flashcards, a real estate dictionary, visual learning videos, and a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee.
Finally, the Career Premium Plus Program includes CA Insider’s Guide, printed course textbooks, and even a CE+ membership.
There are also other packages for Livestream classes.
That’s a lot!
VanEd also has packages, but the options will depend on the state you live in.
For the most part, VanEd has 2 to 3 packages available.
Its Standard plan comes with all the required coursework, as well as a payment plan and live customer service.
The Convenience plan includes a real estate license exam prep course.
The third plan is only available in a few select states, and it adds a CE/post-licensing course to the mix.
To be sure, VanEd isn’t as feature-packed as Allied Schools, but it does provide the basics — and to some, that is all they need.
Reviews
To get a better picture of how these schools perform, we’ll look at a few student reviews.
Here’s one for Allied Schools:
‘‘The study materials were very understandable, and staff was available when you need help! I enjoyed the classes that I took with them, very pleased! I didn’t have any issues with the courses that I took! So I have no improvement issues! I have recommended students to Allied! This is an excellent online school! Great staff that is always friendly and ready to help!’’
And here’s a review for VanEd:
‘‘VanEd has online courses that are affordable and easy to use. Overall, great online courses and support.Would love some more interactivity within the courses. I definitely recommend using VanEd. They helped me get my license and pass the exam quickly and effectively without having to spend a ton of money on the coursework.’’
Alternatives
Love what Allied Schools has to offer but are not from California?
Then check out its sister company, Colibri Real Estate!
Colibri Real Estate (formerly known as Real Estate Express) is probably the leading online real estate school in the country.
With its wide availability and jam-packed plans, you’re sure to get all the help to ace the licensing exam and succeed in the industry.
Looking for available CE courses?
Then go for the other sister company, McKissock.
This online real estate school has CE courses for ALL states. And yes, you can expect LOADS of features and great UI, too.
Allied Schools vs VanEd – The Verdict
And that was your complete Allied Schools vs VanEd comparison review.
Remember, the “better” one will depend on YOU — your needs and wants.
If you’re from California and are looking for a feature-rich school that has a great UI and even Livestream classes, then we highly recommend Allied Schools.
But if you live in another state and want to learn from experienced instructors, then you can’t go wrong with VanEd.
To be sure, though, whatever provider you choose, you’ll be in great hands.