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The Best Online Master's in Construction Management Degree Programs

This is a ranking of the best Online Master's in Construction Management Degree Programs in the United States.

About this ranking:

This ranking of online master's in construction management degree is designed for online students to be aware of college and degree options for studying Construction Management at the master's level.

Earning a master's degree in Construction Management programs elevates your current career prospects in construction to a higher skill level and, in turn, can lead to a higher salary tier.

A master's degree prepares students to work in senior positions at construction firms, or with specializations in projects like LEED certified buildings and civil engineering.

Construction managers need to know how to maintain construction company's financial control of a construction site, comply with environmental regulations and quality control on construction jobs.

In a master's program, students will learn construction methods, project management, engineering (including civil infrastructure engineering), architecture, and all the technical skills needed by working professionals.

While graduates can work in the field with just an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree will elevate your career prospects and open new, higher career paths in the industry. A master's degree might allow you to work in city planning or real estate, alongside traditional contractor and construction management positions.

Earning a master's in Construction Management degree online allows location flexibility and makes it easier to balance education with full-time or part-time work life. Most of the construction management online programs below offer the same courses in-person, so you won't be missing out on the latest theories and curriculum by learning online.

Often construction management programs are taken at business schools. The most prestigious online construction management degree programs are at a regionally accredited institution.

Featured Online Construction Management Degree Programs:

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Ranking Methodology

This best online Master's in Construction Management degree programs ranking was created using Successful Student's ranking algorithm. This algorithm uses the following data points to calculate a school's ranking placement:

  • Retention rate
  • Desirability (number of applicants)
  • Percentage of students who are fully online
  • In-district average tuition for full time graduates
  • In-state average graduate tuition
  • Academic influence

The Best Online Master's in Construction Management Degree Programs

The Best Online Master's in Construction Management Degree Programs
Rank School Location
1 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
2 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
3 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ
4 Southern New Hampshire University Hooksett, NH
5 Purdue Polytechnic Institute - Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana
6 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
7 University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) El Paso, TX
8 University of Houston Houston, TX
9 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA
10 Louisiana State University Online Baton Rouge, LA
1.

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Offering its first engineering classes in 1905, USC has a long history of preparing students for successful careers in engineering-related fields. Recognized as a leader in education, research and commercialization rooted in real-world needs, USC Viterbi School of Engineering encourages qualities of leadership, ambition, scholarship and character. The school offers bachelor of science, master's and doctoral programs.

Geared toward young professionals with a range of undergraduate degrees, the Master of Construction Management online program helps prepare students to understand and execute an array of technical and non-technical activities within construction management.

With special attention to the function of the constructor in real estate development, the program prepares graduates for careers as leaders in the real estate/construction industry.

The online program consists of current theories and practice and features the same lectures as those attended by on-campus students.

Credit requirements: 32 units

Selection of required courses:

  • Construction Practices
  • Construction Business
  • Project Controls
  • Construction Planning and Preconstruction

Start dates: Three start dates - spring, summer and fall.

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering or an engineering-related discipline. Applicants must submit official transcripts, GRE scores, a resume/curriculum vitae, personal statement and two letter of recommendation.

Accreditation: USC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

2.

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Known for its interdisciplinary approach to applied education, Drexel University's Master's in Construction Management degree online allows students to develop the skills needed to become effective senior construction managers and supervisors. The program focuses on complex construction projects, challenging deadlines and increasing regulation.

The fully online curriculum provides students with technical knowledge and helps them hone their practical business decision-making and leadership skills.

Drexel's faculty has decades of construction management experience in public and private sectors, as well as union and open shop environments.

Students can tailor their degree with one of three concentrations:

  • Construction Project Management
  • Real Estate Development
  • Sustainability and Green Construction

Credit requirements: 45 credits

Selection of required courses:

  • Construction Control Techniques
  • Cost Estimating and Bidding Strategies
  • Leadership in Construction
  • Construction Accounting and Financial Management
  • Risk Management in Construction

Students also complete a capstone project.

Start dates: Four dates each year - fall, winter, spring and summer

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, business or a non-technical degree from a regionally accredited university. Applicants must submit official transcripts, two letter of recommendation, a 500-word essay and a resume.

Accreditation: Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

3.

Arizona State University

Tempe, AZ

With an award-winning faculty and more than 200 fully online undergraduate and graduate programs, ASU Online prepares students for a host of career fields.

Its Master of Science in Construction Management degree program helps students develop the management, advanced technical and applied research skills needed in the construction industry.

The program builds upon competencies developed from previous degrees and industry experiences and prepares graduates for upper level leadership roles in the facilities management and construction fields.

Credit requirements: 30 credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Facilities Operations and Maintenance
  • Principles of Leadership for Project Managers
  • Facilities Project Management
  • Facility Management: Building Energy Management

Students complete either an applied project or a thesis.

Start dates: Six start dates per year

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited university. Applicants must submit official transcripts, a resume, personal statement and proof of English proficiency.

Accreditation: ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

4.

Southern New Hampshire University

Hooksett, NH

Southern New Hampshire University's online Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Construction Management online program helps students develop real-world expertise and project management skills needed for successful careers in the field.

The specialized construction management degree program focuses on the tools, practices and strategies of Construction Management, such as the relationship between estimating and budgeting for projects, materials and methods.

Credit requirements: 36 total credits

Selection of required courses:

  • Construction Budgeting, Estimating and Bidding
  • Construction Materials and Methods
  • Construction Law and Contracts
  • Construction Quality Management and Productivity
  • Human Behavior in Organizations

Start dates: Five start dates each year

Admissions and transfer credit information: Southern New Hampshire University offers rolling admissions. Applicants must submit undergraduate transcripts.

Accreditation: Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

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5.

Purdue Polytechnic Institute - Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana

One of 10 academic colleges at Purdue University, Purdue Polytechnic Institute offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a range of disciplines. Founded in 1964, Purdue Polytechnic's academic programs combine team-based projects, theory-based applied learning, competency-based credentialing and experiential components.

Its online Master's in Construction Management program provides students with the knowledge and educational experience needed to make contributions in the field of construction. With an emphasis on construction operations and company-level management, the fully online program gives students the benefits of a Master of Business Administration degree but with a construction focus.

The program features live, synchronous classes.

Purdue Polytechnic also offers a four-course graduate certificate in Executive Construction Management.

Credit requirements: 33 credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Risk Management in Construction
  • Managing Construction Quality and Production
  • Energy Conserving Building Retrofit
  • Law for Construction Managers
  • Preconstruction Project Management

Start dates: Three start dates - fall, spring and summer

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience in the construction industry. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts and a resume.

Accreditation: Purdue is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

6.

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM

The University of New Mexico School of Engineering combines research that addresses global challenges with excellence in academic programs. Its online Master's in Construction Management degree program provides students with an advanced education in new and expanding areas of construction programming, project management, cost control, construction law and safety.

The program is designed to accommodate students with interest or experience in all sectors and aspects of the construction industry.

Credit requirements: 30 credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Simulation and Design of Construction Operations
  • Principles of Written Construction Documents
  • Project Controls
  • Construction Safety
  • Construction Law

Start dates: Three start dates per year.

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants to the Construction Management master must submit GMAT or GRE scores. Applicants should have college-level proficiency in mathematics and reading and writing in English. An undergraduate degree in engineering is not required.

Accreditation: The University of New Mexico is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

7.

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

El Paso, TX

Designed for those already working in management, engineering, architecture or a related field, the University of Texas at El Paso's fully online Master's in Construction Management program helps students develop the skills needed to manage complex projects, lead teams and thrive in a global marketplace.

Online students gain real-world experience in the construction field through a required internship. At the completion of the program, students are prepared to sit for the certification exam administered by the American Institute of Constructors.

Credit requirements: 30 credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Construction Management
  • Construction Law and Ethics
  • Construction Scheduling
  • Advanced Construction Cost Analysis and Bidding
  • Sustainable Construction

Start dates: Six start dates per year

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must submit official transcripts.

Accreditation: The University of Texas at El Paso is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

8.

University of Houston

Houston, TX

The University of Houston's Online & Special Programs offers a range of online, hybrid, and face to face courses leading to graduate degrees and certificates.

The university's online Master of Science in Construction Management provides the skills and knowledge needed for successful leadership roles in the construction industry. The program's curriculum focuses on fundamental knowledge and advanced topics, such as project management, risk analysis, and computer applications.

Credit requirements: 30 total hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Construction Management Principles
  • Cost Analysis & Bidding
  • Computer Applications in Construction Management
  • Quality Control in Industrial Construction
  • Project Management Principles
  • Data Analysis in Construction Management
  • Building Information Modeling in Construction Management

Students can choose between a course-based and thesis-based option.

Start dates: Two start dates each year

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must submit GRE scores.

Accreditation: The University of Houston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

9.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering features world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities designed to empower students to work toward a better, sustainable tomorrow. Students conduct research with global implications in areas such as infrastructure, health monitoring, structural design, construction, water resources, sustainability, and pollution prevention and remediation.

Its online Master of Science in Construction Project Management program prepares students to manage complex construction projects at all stages, from resource planning to risk mitigation and reporting. Designed to meet the growing needs of professionals, the program provides students with practical knowledge and expertise in design and construction engineering processes, legal relations, and the organization and use of resources.

WPI offers highly customizable plans of study, allowing students to explore a range of topics including fire protection, sustainable construction practices, building information modeling, supply chain management, and systems thinking.

WPI also offers an online graduate certificate in Construction Project Management.

Credit requirements: 33 credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Advanced Project Management
  • Financial Decision-Making for Value Creation
  • Building Information Modeling
  • Advanced Cost Estimating

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a relevant bachelor's degree and submit official transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and a resume.

Accreditation: Worcester Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

10.

Louisiana State University Online

Baton Rouge, LA

LSU Online, part of the Louisiana State University system, offers a fully online Master of Science in Construction Management program, designed to provide students with the technical and interpersonal skills needed to become successful construction leaders.

Accredited by the American Council for Construction Education, the program blends coursework in leadership with core construction subjects such as sustainability, project delivery, building information modeling, and decision making.

LSU Online also offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in construction management.

Credit requirements: 36 total credit hours

Selection of required courses:

  • Research Methods in Construction Management
  • Project Delivery
  • Decision Making Tools in Construction Management

Start dates: Six start dates per year

Admissions and transfer credit information: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture or Engineering from an accredited institution. Applicants also must be employed with three years of demonstrated Construction Management Work experience.

Accreditation: LSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How Much Do Construction Managers Earn?

Construction Managers earned a median salary of $98,420 in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS projects Construction Managers to grow by 11%, adding 51,400 more positions by the year 2030.

How much will I earn with a master's in construction management online degree?

Construction Managers: A Construction Manager earns $98,890 per year as the median annual salary. Construction Manager has a growth rate of 8%, higher than the national average for all other occupations.

Is a master's in Construction Management worth it?

Those who earn the Masters degree in Construction Management earn more salary than others in construction projects.

Over the course of an average lifetime of working, at this salary rate, lifetime earnings will equal $6,191,505, assuming working for 41 years (from age 24 through 65), and assuming a 2% inflation rate.

What Core Courses Will I Take in an Online Master's in Construction Management Program?

  • Construction methods
  • Facilities operations and maintenance
  • Construction company financial control
  • Engineering management
  • Civil engineering
  • Real estate development
  • Construction project management

Construction Industry

The construction industries primarily include commercial construction and residential construction. Both industries need construction management to properly execute construction projects.

Upon completion of their construction education, graduates are equipped in a diverse range of roles within the industry. Construction career roles include:

  • organizing and managing the different teams as project coordinators
  • calculating the costs of materials and labor
  • ensuring the safety of workers and the public
  • securing new business opportunities as business development managers
  • ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations

Leadership positions require expertise, hands on experience, and competence, which are crucial to the success of construction management techniques.

Online Masters Construction Management Degree

Earning a master's in Construction Management degree online allows location flexibility and makes it easier to balance education with full-time or part-time work life. Most of the construction management online programs below offer the same courses in-person, so you won't be missing out on the latest theories and curriculum by learning online.

Often construction management programs are taken at business schools. The most prestigious online construction management degree programs are a regionally accredited institution.

Meeting construction career goals can potentially be improved with the competitive advantage of a master's in construction management.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is potentially available for online students pursuing a master's degree in any of the construction management programs mentioned in this ranking, depending on financial aid qualifications. Check with each school for their specific qualifications.

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