Hondros College

What Hondros College does

Hondros College of Business (legal name), founded in 1969 and headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, is a for-profit professional education institution specializing in licensing, exam preparation, and continuing education across multiple regulated industries. Its core vertical is Ohio real estate — pre-licensing, exam prep, post-licensing, broker, and continuing education — and it extends into appraisal, home inspection, mortgage lending, insurance, securities, general contracting, and specialized programs such as NCSF personal fitness certification, OMCP online marketing, and SafeLand USA oil & gas. The company claims 4 of 5 Ohio Real Estate licensees were educated by Hondros and reports a 94% first-attempt exam pass rate for January-September 2025.

The institution delivers coursework through three modalities — classroom instruction across seven Ohio campuses (Westerville/Columbus HQ, Independence/Cleveland South, Uniontown/Akron, Fairborn/Dayton, West Chester/Cincinnati, Maumee/Toledo, and Youngstown), self-paced online learning, and live-stream instructor-led courses — wrapped around a CompuCram simulated-exam engine. Courses are state-approved and, where applicable, NMLS-approved, NCSF-approved, or recognized by the Appraiser Qualifications Board. Online delivery extends to at least nine states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Indiana.

Revenue is generated through one-time pre-licensing packages, one-time exam-prep bundles, recurring continuing-education subscriptions across multiple professions, one-time professional-development courses (e.g., Real Estate Negotiation Institute), and advertising placements in a 75,000-circulation Course Guide. A direct-to-consumer motion is supplemented by enrollment specialists reachable at 1-888-HONDROS, corporate partnerships with brokerages and realtor associations, alumni and affiliate programs, military-discount pricing, and Klarna/Affirm installment financing. The company operates as part of the Hondros Family of Companies, wholly owned by Colibri Group (via McKissock Investment Holdings, LLC), and has expanded through acquisitions of Realty Continuing Education (2013), Arizona School of Real Estate and Business (2013), Hogan School of Real Estate (2018), and Schlicher-Kratz Institute (2018).

Name

Hondros College

Legal name

Hondros College of Business

Website

https://hondros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hondros College is a for-profit professional education institution, headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, that delivers state-approved pre-licensing, exam preparation, and continuing education for real estate, appraisal, home inspection, mortgage, insurance, securities, and construction professionals across nine US states via seven Ohio campuses and online platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Licensing

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Licensure Exam Prep (Salesperson/Broker, Appraiser) (EDANAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI), Securities & Investment Licensing Exam Prep (FINRA Series 7/63/65/66, SIE) (EDANAIAJ), Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL), Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

Keywords

• Real estate education
• Professional licensing courses
• Continuing education programs
• Pre-licensing training
• Professional certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pre-Licensing Courses: Initial licensing courses for real estate agents, brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, insurance agents, mortgage loan originators, and other professions. Offered as packages with classroom, online, or livestream options.
2. Exam Prep: Comprehensive exam preparation packages including practice tests, simulated exams, math review, and instructor support.
3. Continuing Education: Ongoing education requirements for license renewal across multiple professions including real estate, home inspection, appraisal, insurance, and mortgage.
4. Professional Development: Advanced certifications and specialized training such as Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI) courses, Online Marketing Specialist Programs, and personal fitness certifications.
5. Course Guide Advertising: Advertising placements in the printed and digital Course Guide distributed to 75,000 recipients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hondros College delivers professional pre-licensing courses, exam preparation, post-licensing education, and continuing education programs primarily for the real estate industry (salesperson and broker), with additional licensing tracks in insurance, appraisal, mortgage lending, home inspection, securities, construction, and personal fitness certification. Programs are delivered through three formats — in-person classroom at Ohio campuses, self-paced online coursework, and live-stream virtual instruction — and are approved by relevant state regulatory boards across multiple U.S. states.

Product overview

Hondros College is an educational institution offering professional licensing and continuing education programs across multiple industries. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of products including Real Estate (Salesperson and Broker pre-licensing, exam prep, continuing education), Insurance, Appraisal, Mortgage Lending, Home Inspection, Securities, Construction, and Personal Fitness certification programs. The institution also offers specialized programs including Online Marketing Specialist Programs with OMCP certification, SafeLand USA Oil and Gas certification, and Title Insurance exam prep. Programs are delivered through classroom, online, and livestream formats, with courses available across multiple U.S. states (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey). The company operates multiple Ohio campuses and is part of the Colibri Group portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hondros Learning: Online education division of Hondros offering continuing education and professional development courses.
• Hondros College of Business

Products and services

• Real Estate Salesperson Pre-Licensing Ohio real estate salesperson pre-licensing courses that can be completed in as little as 3 months. Includes 100 hours of pre-licensing education (reduced from 120 hours as of April 2025), offered in classroom, online, and live-stream formats for adult learners and career changers seeking Ohio licensure.
• Real Estate Exam Prep Comprehensive exam preparation package for prospective Ohio real estate licensees, including real estate instructor support, math review, and CompuCram — an all-in-one solution for practice and simulated exams.
• Real Estate Salesperson Post-Licensing Post-licensing courses for newly licensed Ohio real estate salespersons to complete their initial licensing requirements.
• Real Estate Continuing Education
• Real Estate Broker Pre-Licensing Ohio real estate broker pre-licensing programs including four 30-hour broker courses: Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law. Requires 2 years of experience and 20 transactions for eligibility.
• Insurance Pre-Licensing Insurance pre-licensing program for Life and Health or Property and Casualty Insurance with classroom, online, or self-study options, preparing students for the relevant state insurance licensing exam.
• Appraisal Programs Comprehensive appraisal programs including appraiser assistant training, licensed residential appraiser, and certified residential appraiser courses. Includes the only associate degree program recognized by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) as an approved education provider for real property appraisers in the United States.
• Mortgage Lending Pre-Licensing NMLS-approved mortgage loan originator pre-licensing program covering national regulations. Offers weekend classroom courses and a 24-hour online pre-licensing course for aspiring MLOs seeking national compliance education.
• Home Inspection Courses Comprehensive 112-hour home inspection program balancing classroom and hands-on training taught by local professionals. State-approved by the Ohio Home Inspection Board, with a 14-hour CE package for licensed inspectors.
• Securities Education Advanced securities certification programs and education for professionals seeking securities licenses.
• Construction/General Contractor Licensing General contractor education and licensing preparation courses offered in partnership with CTC Construction for individuals seeking contractor licensing.
• Title Insurance Exam Prep Comprehensive title insurance exam preparation courses for individuals pursuing the title insurance license.
• Online Marketing Specialist Programs Video-based online marketing courses for small business owners covering internet marketing fundamentals, video marketing, social media marketing, SEO, pay-per-click marketing, landing page optimization, and web analytics. Includes Online Marketing Practitioner Certification (OMCP) packages.
• SafeLand USA Oil and Gas Certification 8-hour one-day SafeLand USA certification course and 24-hour core compliance course covering hazardous communications, defensive driving, emergency response, SafeGulf and SafeLand, for oil and gas industry workers.
• Personal Fitness Certification National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) approved personal trainer certification program covering fundamentals of exercise science, fitness program design, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition.
• Indiana Real Estate Managing Broker Program Managing Broker real estate education program for the state of Indiana, extending Hondros's real estate licensing education beyond Ohio.
• Hondros College Course Guide Primary reference tool for pre-licensing students and continuing education professionals, distributed online and through direct mail with a circulation of 75,000 recipients. Includes advertising placements for industry partners.
• Kentucky Real Estate Licensing Courses Online real estate pre-licensing courses for students pursuing licensure as real estate professionals in Kentucky, expanding Hondros's geographic footprint beyond Ohio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% first-attempt exam pass rate (January-September 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schlicher-Kratz InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2018Hondros Education Group acquired Schlicher-Kratz Institute in a partnership advancing real estate, mortgage, and appraisal education in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This acquisition fulfilled the vision to offer education nationwide.
• Hogan School of Real EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Hondros Education Group acquired Hogan School of Real Estate in Tucson, Arizona, unifying real estate, mortgage, and appraisal education in Arizona. This was HEG's third acquisition to expand nationwide offerings.
• Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & IndianaminorOthers · 30 October 2018Hondros College partnered with Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to raise funds to grant a wish to a local child dealing with a critical illness. The partnership aims to change lives through community support initiatives.
• Youngstown Columbiana Association of RealtorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2014Hondros College partnered with the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors to heighten real estate education in the Youngstown/Columbiana region of Ohio. The partnership provides educational opportunities and courses that support Realtors in the area.
• Toledo Board of RealtorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2014Hondros College formed a relationship with the Toledo Board of Realtors to support real estate education in the Toledo, Ohio area. The partnership leverages Hondros's full array of real estate offerings in Ohio and Michigan continuing education to benefit board members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The CE Shop: Online-focused real estate pre-licensing and continuing education provider; sibling Colibri brand competing in the same state-approved course categories as Hondros.
• McKissock Learning: Colibri-owned professional education platform offering real estate, appraisal, and home inspection CE; direct competitor to Hondros in CE and licensing categories.
• Real Estate Express: Colibri-owned online real estate school delivering pre-licensing and exam prep in multiple states; overlapping curriculum and audience with Hondros.
• Mbition (formerly OnlineEd): Online-only real estate and mortgage licensing school operating in multiple states; direct competitor to Hondros's online self-paced pre-licensing courses.
• Career WebSchool: Online real estate, mortgage, and home inspection licensing school; competes with Hondros on price and convenience in the same end markets.
• Allied Real Estate Schools: Multi-state online real estate pre-licensing and continuing education school; direct competitor in the same state-approved course categories as Hondros.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Real Estate Education: Large, established national brand offering real estate pre-licensing, exam prep, and CE across many states; broader incumbent competing with Hondros for online and classroom share.
• 360training: Broad professional-education incumbent covering real estate, mortgage, insurance, OSHA and safety, with state-approved real estate licensing overlapping Hondros's portfolio.

Others

• Colibri Group (parent): Portfolio parent that also owns McKissock, The CE Shop, and Real Estate Express; a sibling-of-siblings relationship that drives competitive and strategic dynamics for Hondros.
• CompuCram (practice exam platform): Real estate and insurance practice exam provider whose product Hondros bundles into its exam-prep packages; useful comparator for the assessment technology layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hondros
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HondrosCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/hondroscollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hondros-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/hondroscollege

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hondros College