Best Online Bachelor’s in Project Management
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Top Project Management Degree Pr
Earning a bachelor’s in project management prepares graduates to launch a career in a number of industries. According to the BLS, the median salary for project management professionals is $101,610.
Because project management is a diverse field, bachelor’s degree programs often have different course offerings and degree requirements. Most project management programs are designed to help the student develop leadership, management, and critical thinking skills. Coursework in project management programs emphasizes skills in all facets of management, covering topics such as operations management, project and contract procurement, risk management, and leadership.
Many programs offer curricula aligning with the Project Management Institute’s Body of Knowledge standards.
Students who pursue a project management degree online experience more flexibility in completing coursework without sacrificing quality. Before choosing a program, ensure the requirements fit your career goals and lifestyle. Read on for the best project management degree programs offered online.
Featured Online Project Management Programs
The Best Online Project Management Degree Programs
University of Massachusetts Global
Irvine, CA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,000
- Out-of-state$12,000
- In-State$11,880
- Out-of-state$11,880
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance Rate89%
- Students Enrolled10,231
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Colorado State University Global Campus
- Aurora, CO
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$8,400
- Out-of-state$8,400
- In-State$9,000
- Out-of-state$9,000
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled12,670
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,417
- Out-of-state$15,417
- In-State$7,980
- Out-of-state$7,980
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled85,586
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
Saint Louis University
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$44,700
- Out-of-state$44,700
- In-State$20,880
- Out-of-state$20,880
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled12,799
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment12%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin Stout
- Menomonie, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,014
- Out-of-state$14,981
- In-State$7,155
- Out-of-state$15,465
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled8,413
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
City University of Seattle
- Seattle, WA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,120
- Out-of-state$13,120
- In-State$11,430
- Out-of-state$11,430
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,960
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment80%
- AccreditationYes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Daytona Beach, FL
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$9,912
- Out-of-state$9,912
- In-State$8,268
- Out-of-state$8,268
- Retention Rate52%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled13,773
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment93%
- AccreditationYes
Charleston Southern University
- Charleston, SC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,000
- Out-of-state$26,000
- In-State$7,500
- Out-of-state$7,500
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate50%
- Students Enrolled3,477
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,756
- Out-of-state$30,756
- In-State$18,810
- Out-of-state$18,810
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled113,514
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Davenport University
- Grand Rapids, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$18,408
- Out-of-state$18,408
- In-State$14,958
- Out-of-state$14,958
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled6,429
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment73%
- AccreditationYes
Choosing an Online Project Management Program
It’s essential that prospective students consider several factors before enrolling in postsecondary degree programs, including the costs, transfer allowances, types of schools, time frames, and on-campus requirements. Learners who do not take the time to analyze each of these differences before choosing schools can end up unhappy with their online project management bachelor degree programs. Furthermore, candidates may end up making poor investments that only set their careers back, rather than driving them forward. Those who take the time to find the right program find value in the process.
Featured Online Project Management Programs
- Program Cost:
- Students often think of cost as the most critical factor in choosing an online project management degree. Prospective learners should not only think of tuition prices, but also fees, the number of credits needed, and books. Candidates must also consider the value of the degrees they earn, including whether the school earns accreditation.
- Transfer Policies:
- Learners with some college credit should seriously take into consideration a school’s transfer policies. When transferring from another school, students save money and time on their online project management degrees when they can transfer most or all their credits. Candidates with associate degrees contact their previous institutions to see if they maintain transfer agreements with any universities.
- School Size and Type:
- Candidates should consider whether they learn better in small class sizes or in environments with large numbers of students. Learners must also decide whether public or private schools best fit their needs. Those who want private institutions must also evaluate if each school maintains nonprofit status.
- Program Length:
- Learners must consider how long it will take them to finish the online project management degree courses they need to graduate. Learners who transfer may require less time than the school advertises, while those who enroll part time may need more years. Prospective students can contact admissions officers at schools to help them determine their timeframes.
- On-Campus Requirements:
- For students who want project management degrees, online bachelor’s programs offer convenience and flexibility. However, some online programs have a few on-campus requirements. For example, some programs present hybrid options in which learners go to campus a few times per week. Other institutions offer fully online learning but require candidates to come to campus for orientation or a few week-long seminars.
- Accreditation
- Students should always consider accreditation before they enroll in programs. Accreditation comes in two forms: institutional and programmatic. Institutional accreditation applies to the entire school. The United States Department of Education gives the Council for Higher Education Accreditation the authority to deputize other organizations. Those organizations investigate higher learning institutions. The accrediting professionals then determine whether the school provides high-quality education.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management?
How long it takes for learners to earn online project management degrees depends on several factors, including how many credits students transfer into the programs, whether learners enroll full or part time, and each school’s schedule. Degree candidates with no previous college experience should expect to take about four full-time years to complete their degrees. Some learners expedite the process with summer and winter classes.
Students who hold associate degrees earn bachelor’s degrees in about two years of full-time study. Like their peers, these learners take summer and winter classes to graduate sooner. Degree candidates taking part-time courses take nearly twice as long to complete programs as their full-time classmates.
Accelerated schedules help learners graduate quickly. Schools with such plans offer courses in eight-week terms, rather than the longer traditional semester schedule. This schedule allows students to take just one class at a time or take two and graduate quickly.
Courses in an Online Project Management Bachelor’s Program
- Human Resources and Motivation Management
- Successful project management professionals must know how to hire, retain, and motivate qualified professionals. These classes cover the legal and ethical considerations for hiring. Students also learn how to keep employees engaged, productive, and working as part of the larger team.
- Principles of Management
- Students in these courses learn about different management styles and theories. Learners come to understand how to best manage different types of personalities and ways to apply practical solutions to everyday management problems. Educators may also cover theories regarding hiring, retaining, disciplining, and firing employees.
- Effective Project Scheduling
- Project managers must stay on schedule to please their companies and clients. These courses teach students to set realistic schedules for projects, stay on track, and adjust timelines as needed. Graduates market this skill to find jobs at organizations that value timeliness.
- Project Management Practicum
- Some programs require learners to complete internships before graduation. Students gain hands-on experience under the supervision of professional project managers. Practicums can be added to resumes to help create networks that help them earn jobs with their degrees. Some schools facilitate practicums, while others require degree candidates to make the connections themselves.
- Capstone
- Students take capstone courses at the end of their online project management bachelor degree programs. These classes bring together all the knowledge and skills that learners gain in previous coursework as they complete final projects. Graduates add these projects to their portfolios to demonstrate their skills to potential employers.
Featured Online Project Management Programs
What Can You Do With a Degree in Project Management?
Because project management degrees provide an array of marketable skills, graduates enter careers across industries. Project management professionals are strong leaders and proficient multitaskers. The careers below are a few examples of options for graduates with a project management degree.
- Construction Project Manager:
- Because construction is an inherently project-based industry, many employers desire graduates with project management degrees. Project managers in the construction industry oversee the day-to-day operations at building sites. Job duties include estimating building costs, designing project schedules, and ensuring high-quality work. Successful candidates demonstrate contract negotiation and budget-management skills.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $56,000
- Mid-Career: $83,000
- Experienced: $90,000
- Late Career: $95,000
- IT Project Manager:
- Project managers in the IT sector oversee the many moving parts of IT departments. They make sure that the software, hardware, engineering, and security experts on a given project all work toward compatible goals. These project managers should have advanced technological skills, including agile software development.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $66,000
- Mid-Career: $94,000
- Experienced: $106,000
- Late Career: $116,000
- Operations Manager:
- These management professionals work in nearly every industry, overseeing daily operations in departments like sales, logistics, manufacturing, and storage. In addition, operations managers oversee budgets and ensure legal compliance. Their oversight helps ensure that all the parts of a business work in harmony to meet company goals.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $57,000
- Mid-Career: $72,000
- Experienced: $78,000
- Late Career: $84,000
- Content Manager:
- Content managers oversee creative projects, particularly in marketing and search engine optimization campaigns. They manage the various creative professionals who contribute to those projects, including writers, graphic designers, editors, and web administrators. Content managers ensure deadlines are met and that projects stay on budget.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $49,000
- Mid-Career: $70,000
- Experienced: $80,000
- Late Career: $81,000
- Management Analyst:
- Organizations in the private and public sectors hire management analysts to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and policy adherence among managers using strategic planning and project management skills. They analyze current operations and make recommendations for improvement. Management analysts often work as contractors.
- Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $57,000
- Mid-Career: $68,000
- Experienced: $77,000
- Late Career: $87,000
Source: PayScale
