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Property underwriter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a property underwriter. Property underwriters usually study business, insurance, or finance. 75% of property underwriters hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 551 real property underwriter resumes to see exactly what property underwriter education sections show.

The most common colleges for property underwriters are the Arizona State University and the Arizona State University.

There are also many online property underwriter courses to help get the education required to be a property underwriter.

There are certain property underwriter certifications that you should consider. These property underwriter certifications include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI).

What education do you need to become a property underwriter?

What degree do you need to be a property underwriter?

The most common degree for property underwriters is bachelor's degree, with 75% of property underwriters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 13% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 75%
  • Associate, 13%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a property underwriter?

You should major in business to become a property underwriter. 32% of property underwriters major in business. Other common majors for a property underwriter include insurance and finance.

Most common colleges for property underwriters

Property underwriters often get their degrees at Arizona State University, University of Georgia, and Illinois State University. Here are the most common colleges for property underwriters in the US based on their resumes.
Property underwriter common collegePercentages
Arizona State University6.94%
University of Georgia6.94%
Illinois State University5.56%
Texas State University5.56%
Temple University5.56%

Best majors for property underwriters

RankMajorPercentages
1Business31.6%
2Insurance10.1%
3Finance9.4%
4Economics8.8%
5Political Science4.9%

Best colleges for property underwriters

The best colleges for property underwriters are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

A property underwriter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for property underwriters. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become property underwriters.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

7. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Enrollment

32,072

9. Butler University

Indianapolis, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$41,120

Enrollment

4,553

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

20 best online courses for property underwriters

Advertising disclosure

1. Intellectual Property Law

coursera

Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world. The pharmaceutical patent for Lipitor generated over $100 billion in revenue, the copyright for the Harry Potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date, and the trademarked brands of the world’s largest tech companies now eclipse $100 billion in value. But what makes these intangible assets so valuable?\n\nThrough the courses in this specialization, you will learn the differences between the various forms of U.S. intellectual...

2. Introduction to Intellectual Property

coursera

Intellectual property is the currency of the tech world, with the world’s most valuable intellectual property assets dwarfing the value of their real-world counterparts. Apple’ trademarked brand was valued at over $100 billion as of 2017. J.K. Rowling’s Harry potter franchise has generated over $25 billion to date. But how did the law come to create such enormous value in intangible assets? This course will introduce the various types of U.S. intellectual property: patents, which cover...

3. Fundamentals of Insurance - 2

udemy
4.4
(5,370)

Part 2...

4. Fundamentals of Insurance - 1

udemy
4.4
(8,948)

Part 1...

5. Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry

coursera

This course begins with an overview of general intellectual property law in the United States, then examines how the policy choices behind those laws shapes the behavior of major players in the healthcare industry. We will examine how patents and trademarks shape the behavior of pharmaceutical companies, and how complex issues involving medical research in university settings, and ownership of genetic information and material, are resolved by intellectual property laws. The course concludes...

6. Federal Taxation II: Property Transactions of Business Owners and Shareholders

coursera

This course examines the U.S. federal tax system as it relates to property transactions of business owners and shareholders. Topics include cost recovery, such as depreciation, amortization, and depletion; calculation of realized versus recognized gains and losses; evaluation of the potential tax effects of nontaxable exchanges; and the combining, or netting, gains and losses that are different in nature. Assignments facilitate self-discovery of knowledge and development of a variety of...

7. U.S. Residential Real Estate, Property & Mortgage Business

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4.6
(2,324)

Property & Mortgage Underwriting Loan Processing Financial Analysis Mortgage Operations Origination...

8. Excel Skills for Insurance Professionals

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4.5
(1,046)

From Vlookups to Pivot Tables: Learn the Excel basics anyone working in the insurance industry needs to know!...

9. Multifamily Real Estate Underwriting Masterclass

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4.3
(270)

Learn how you can start underwriting deals today!...

10. Effectively Lease Commercial Real Estate Properties

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4.6
(266)

Learn how to lease industrial, office, and retail properties with ease...

11. Fundamentals of Residential Property Management

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4
(490)

Understand the foundation of residential property management as a property manager or landlord...

12. Property Management 101

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4.4
(773)

Learn the basics of managing rental property and becoming a landlord...

13. How to Become a Loan Signing Agent & Remote Online Notary

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4.7
(825)

Learn how to become a profitable signing agent and RON step by step A to Z...

14. Become a Notary Loan Signing Agent

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4.9
(311)

Learn 27 NSA terms, learn 35 documents typically used in a loan signing, common types of signing packages, and more!...

15. Your Customer Service Toolbox: Best Practices for Beginners

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4.5
(4,101)

Excel as a front-line customer service agent using problem-solving & relationship-building skills, etiquette, and more...

16. Broker U - Gateway to Becoming a Freight Broker

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4.6
(500)

Online Freight Broker Training - Learn the skills necessary to become a Freight Broker or agent...

17. Intellectual Property Security Awareness

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How to Use Social Media without Infringing on Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Patents...

18. Zendesk for Customer Service Agents-Complete Training Course

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Learn how to use all available options of Zendesk and manage your tickets like a real PRO. This is a complete training...

19. How to Become a Mobile Notary and Loan Signing Agent

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Learn how to make over six figures as a Real Estate Loan Signing Agent and Mobile Notary...

20. Zendesk for Customer Service Agents Training Course

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How to provide great customer support using Zendesk, a course for beginners...

Top 10 most affordable universities for property underwriters

The most affordable schools for property underwriters are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.

If the best universities for property underwriters are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for property underwriters.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for property underwriters

The hardest universities for property underwriters to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for property underwriters are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for property underwriters based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for property underwriters

The easiest schools for property underwriters to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and la roche college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a property underwriter without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for property underwriters.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

8. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

9. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

10. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

Average property underwriter salary by education level

Property underwriters with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $95,691 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, property underwriters earn a median annual income of $80,385 compared to $60,681 for property underwriters with an Associate degree.
Property underwriter education levelProperty underwriter salary
Master's Degree$95,691
High School Diploma or Less$58,880
Bachelor's Degree$80,385
Some College/ Associate Degree$60,681

Property underwriter education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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