50 Most Affordable Project Management School Programs

Get Matched With Project Management Programs

Business degrees always hold special esteem in the job market. Those degrees that are more specific tend to be even more highly valued. Furthermore, a specialized degree in project management gives graduates a focus when it comes time to apply for their first jobs. Project management is one of those specialized degrees that is highly valued in today's economy. The field arose from the consulting world, which relies on professionals who are able to assemble and deploy teams to address the client's specific needs.

The degree and profession thus reinforce skills such as organization, team building, leadership, and administrative expertise. Project managers also need to be the contact person for clients when it comes time to address issues pertinent to the work itself, payments, and any other sundry issue that may arise.

This page is all about affordable project management programs. Students who are determined to study the field are encouraged to read more and expand their view while undecided students may discover a new field to fall in love with, or maybe they will discover that they still need to keep their options open. Either way, new educational insights are sure to follow.

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Top 50 Affordable Project Management Colleges and Universities

1

Pensacola State College

Score: 100

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,348
- Out-of-State: $9,407
Net Price: $3,305
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 7,981
Undergrad Students: 7,981
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $55,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

2

Eastern Florida State College

Score: 93.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,496
- Out-of-State: $9,739
Net Price: $5,927
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 13,114
Undergrad Students: 13,114
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $36,300
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

3

Fayetteville State University

Score: 92.26

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,969
- Out-of-State: $7,969
Net Price: $6,355
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 6,787
Undergrad Students: 5,748
Graduate Students: 1,039
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

4

Northwest Florida State College

Score: 90.42

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,246
- Out-of-State: $11,625
Net Price: $7,082
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 60%

Graduation Rate: 38%
Total Enrollment: 4,898
Undergrad Students: 4,898
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $64,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

5

Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Score: 89.14

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,327
- Out-of-State: $20,481
Net Price: $7,587
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 33%
Total Enrollment: 8,721
Undergrad Students: 2,465
Graduate Students: 6,256
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

6

College of Southern Nevada

Score: 88.89

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,110
- Out-of-State: $12,209
Net Price: $7,685
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 17%
Total Enrollment: 28,901
Undergrad Students: 28,901
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $55,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

7

Northern New Mexico College

Score: 87.12

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,400
- Out-of-State: $14,328
Net Price: $8,383
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 53%

Graduation Rate: 40%
Total Enrollment: 1,154
Undergrad Students: 1,154
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

8

University of Arkansas Grantham

Score: 84.17

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,280
- Out-of-State: $8,280
Net Price: $9,546
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 36%

Graduation Rate: 25%
Total Enrollment: 5,436
Undergrad Students: 4,598
Graduate Students: 838
Grads Salary: $82,000
Student-to-faculty: 33:1

9

University of North Alabama

Score: 83.43

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,990
- Out-of-State: $22,190
Net Price: $9,837
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 52%
Total Enrollment: 9,830
Undergrad Students: 7,214
Graduate Students: 2,616
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

10

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Score: 83.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,200
- Out-of-State: $16,410
Net Price: $10,004
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 34%
Total Enrollment: 5,479
Undergrad Students: 3,022
Graduate Students: 2,457
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

11

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Score: 82.96

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,900
- Out-of-State: $23,900
Net Price: $10,022
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 32%
Total Enrollment: 3,082
Undergrad Students: 649
Graduate Students: 2,433
Grads Salary: $82,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

12

New Mexico State University

Score: 81.98

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,147
- Out-of-State: $25,271
Net Price: $10,407
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 14,268
Undergrad Students: 11,591
Graduate Students: 2,677
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

13

Palm Beach State College

Score: 81.62

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,050
- Out-of-State: $10,910
Net Price: $10,549
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: N/A

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 24,223
Undergrad Students: 24,223
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $59,000
Student-to-faculty: 27:1

14

University of New Mexico

Score: 81.41

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,115
- Out-of-State: $26,450
Net Price: $10,633
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 52%
Total Enrollment: 21,953
Undergrad Students: 16,375
Graduate Students: 5,578
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

15

Fairmont State University

Score: 81

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,454
- Out-of-State: $18,372
Net Price: $10,794
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Retention Rate: 63%

Graduation Rate: 46%
Total Enrollment: 3,498
Undergrad Students: 3,197
Graduate Students: 301
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

16

Columbia Basin College

Score: 79.41

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,194
- Out-of-State: $8,239
Net Price: $11,421
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: N/A

Graduation Rate: 28%
Total Enrollment: 6,192
Undergrad Students: 6,192
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $64,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

17

UNH College of Professional Studies

Score: 78.32

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,812
- Out-of-State: $9,372
Net Price: $11,850
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 40%

Graduation Rate: 15%
Total Enrollment: 1,425
Undergrad Students: 1,195
Graduate Students: 230
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

18

University of South Carolina Aiken

Score: 78.27

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,760
- Out-of-State: $21,218
Net Price: $11,872
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 60%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 3,840
Undergrad Students: 3,145
Graduate Students: 695
Grads Salary: $61,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

19

Columbia Southern University

Score: 77.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,808
- Out-of-State: $5,808
Net Price: $12,366
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 42%

Graduation Rate: 33%
Total Enrollment: 15,948
Undergrad Students: 11,330
Graduate Students: 4,618
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 28:1

20

Idaho State University

Score: 76.86

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,356
- Out-of-State: $27,466
Net Price: $12,425
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 12,301
Undergrad Students: 10,017
Graduate Students: 2,284
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

21

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Score: 76.82

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,944
- Out-of-State: $31,360
Net Price: $12,444
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 56%
Total Enrollment: 8,223
Undergrad Students: 6,116
Graduate Students: 2,107
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

22

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Score: 75.84

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,212
- Out-of-State: $16,125
Net Price: $12,827
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 58%
Total Enrollment: 13,705
Undergrad Students: 12,627
Graduate Students: 1,078
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

23

Western Carolina University

Score: 75.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,532
- Out-of-State: $8,532
Net Price: $13,022
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 61%
Total Enrollment: 11,635
Undergrad Students: 9,956
Graduate Students: 1,679
Grads Salary: $66,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

24

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Score: 75.31

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,418
- Out-of-State: $24,146
Net Price: $13,036
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 15,219
Undergrad Students: 12,950
Graduate Students: 2,269
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

25

Lindsey Wilson College

Score: 75.26

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,274
- Out-of-State: $27,274
Net Price: $13,056
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 3,159
Undergrad Students: 1,753
Graduate Students: 1,406
Grads Salary: $50,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

26

Salem University

Score: 75.07

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,750
- Out-of-State: $13,750
Net Price: $13,132
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 57%

Graduation Rate: 29%
Total Enrollment: 984
Undergrad Students: 762
Graduate Students: 222
Grads Salary: N/A
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

27

Troy University

Score: 74.93

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,792
- Out-of-State: $19,584
Net Price: $13,187
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 46%
Total Enrollment: 14,156
Undergrad Students: 10,768
Graduate Students: 3,388
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

28

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Score: 73.92

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,922
- Out-of-State: $12,922
Net Price: $13,586
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 54%
Total Enrollment: 12,519
Undergrad Students: 9,321
Graduate Students: 3,198
Grads Salary: $56,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

29

Sam Houston State University

Score: 73.8

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,228
- Out-of-State: $19,020
Net Price: $13,632
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 56%
Total Enrollment: 21,480
Undergrad Students: 18,235
Graduate Students: 3,245
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

30

Baker College

Score: 73.58

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,810
- Out-of-State: $12,810
Net Price: $13,719
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Retention Rate: 63%

Graduation Rate: 20%
Total Enrollment: 4,106
Undergrad Students: 3,778
Graduate Students: 328
Grads Salary: $54,000
Student-to-faculty: 8:1

31

American InterContinental University

Score: 73.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,310
- Out-of-State: $12,310
Net Price: $13,808
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 17%

Graduation Rate: 23%
Total Enrollment: 14,333
Undergrad Students: 10,447
Graduate Students: 3,886
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 40:1

32

Morgan State University

Score: 72.98

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,118
- Out-of-State: $18,800
Net Price: $13,956
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 46%
Total Enrollment: 9,101
Undergrad Students: 7,609
Graduate Students: 1,492
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

33

Ferris State University

Score: 72.92

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,630
- Out-of-State: $13,630
Net Price: $13,978
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 10,072
Undergrad Students: 9,000
Graduate Students: 1,072
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

34

University of Houston

Score: 72.73

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,711
- Out-of-State: $22,191
Net Price: $14,056
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 63%
Total Enrollment: 46,700
Undergrad Students: 37,943
Graduate Students: 8,757
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

35

University of the Cumberlands

Score: 72.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,875
- Out-of-State: $9,875
Net Price: $14,337
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 18,053
Undergrad Students: 5,174
Graduate Students: 12,879
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

36

Towson University

Score: 71.74

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,306
- Out-of-State: $28,326
Net Price: $14,443
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 70%
Total Enrollment: 19,793
Undergrad Students: 16,861
Graduate Students: 2,932
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

37

Arizona State University

Score: 70.82

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State: $32,193
Net Price: $14,808
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 80,065
Undergrad Students: 65,492
Graduate Students: 14,573
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

38

Colorado State University-Global

Score: 70.77

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,400
- Out-of-State: $8,400
Net Price: $14,826
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Retention Rate: 33%

Graduation Rate: 36%
Total Enrollment: 9,565
Undergrad Students: 6,433
Graduate Students: 3,132
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

39

South College

Score: 70.76

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,935
- Out-of-State: $17,935
Net Price: $14,831
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 39%
Total Enrollment: 6,182
Undergrad Students: 4,906
Graduate Students: 1,276
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

40

Capella University

Score: 70.5

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,436
- Out-of-State: $14,436
Net Price: $14,935
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 36%

Graduation Rate: 21%
Total Enrollment: 39,727
Undergrad Students: 13,280
Graduate Students: 26,447
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 35:1

41

Broward College

Score: 69.69

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,830
- Out-of-State: $8,952
Net Price: $15,252
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 35%
Total Enrollment: 30,057
Undergrad Students: 30,057
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $61,000
Student-to-faculty: 29:1

42

Mississippi State University

Score: 69.41

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,815
- Out-of-State: $26,580
Net Price: $15,364
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 63%
Total Enrollment: 22,649
Undergrad Students: 18,305
Graduate Students: 4,344
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

43

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Score: 69.04

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,142
- Out-of-State: $18,706
Net Price: $15,510
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 52%
Total Enrollment: 7,234
Undergrad Students: 6,254
Graduate Students: 980
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

44

California State University-Chico

Score: 69.02

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,064
- Out-of-State: $19,944
Net Price: $15,517
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 64%
Total Enrollment: 14,183
Undergrad Students: 12,981
Graduate Students: 1,202
Grads Salary: $85,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

45

Bemidji State University

Score: 68.91

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,164
- Out-of-State: $10,164
Net Price: $15,561
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 4,023
Undergrad Students: 3,677
Graduate Students: 346
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

46

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Score: 68.82

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,315
- Out-of-State: $17,274
Net Price: $15,595
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 61%
Total Enrollment: 6,486
Undergrad Students: 6,028
Graduate Students: 458
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

47

Central Michigan University

Score: 68.8

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,190
- Out-of-State: $14,190
Net Price: $15,605
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 14,557
Undergrad Students: 10,401
Graduate Students: 4,156
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

48

University of Alaska Anchorage

Score: 68.79

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,566
- Out-of-State: $21,693
Net Price: $15,609
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 66%

Graduation Rate: 30%
Total Enrollment: 10,464
Undergrad Students: 9,925
Graduate Students: 539
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

49

Wright State University

Score: 68.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,188
- Out-of-State: $20,606
Net Price: $15,650
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 64%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 9,678
Undergrad Students: 6,938
Graduate Students: 2,740
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

50

Park University

Score: 68.15

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,400
- Out-of-State: $16,400
Net Price: $15,858
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 23%
Total Enrollment: 7,662
Undergrad Students: 6,238
Graduate Students: 1,424
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Why a Degree from an Affordable Project Management School?

College is a unique commodity. When a student studies hard and earns a degree, nobody can ever take it away from them. All of the material they consume while studying remains with them and they can apply that knowledge in their career. It’s therefore important that students find the highest quality academic institutions available to them.

However, it's also important that students find academic institutions that they can afford from a purely financial standpoint. Yet, pure financial affordability, or a low price, is not what should determine which degree program is the most affordable. This is because higher quality academic institutions will leave students with superior academic training for their careers. They may be more likely to earn more in their first entry-level jobs and then have better success over the long-term.

Find Your Online Project Management Program

When it comes to a project management degree, students typically find that their degrees have great flexibility and can help launch careers that may have an end result in many different positions. Project managers can move higher into supervisory positions, where they oversee other project managers and that can lead to even bigger things. These professionals also tend to have healthy salaries. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that project management specialists earn a median salary of over $77,000.

When students attend a challenging, accredited project management degree program, they often find that their tuition pays off over the long haul. Given this sort of return on investment, even a degree program that is seen as expensive up-front may become more affordable over the long-term. This is because a great educational investment pays its own sort of dividends over time.

Choosing an Affordable Project Management College

To choose the most affordable project management college or university, students and their families must consider many factors. The more practical minded will first focus on the up-front educational costs. They will look at the gross tuition price, estimated costs for books, and living expenses. Those who are looking at the educational value may include such things as a school's reputation, its accreditation, and even things such as the school's location.

However, a better way to find an affordable project management degree program is to start by finding a program that is appealing and which provides the courses and concentration areas deemed most likely to yield long-term success. It can also be helpful to assess each potential school's student-to-faculty ratio, retention rate, and accreditation. These days it's also valuable to check for any online options, as online degrees may have a lower overall cost than a traditional program. Online degrees may not only have lower tuition costs, but they can often bring a remote program management degree program as close as the nearest Wi-Fi connection. Students that don't need to travel to attend online programs might avoid having to pay a high cost of living in an expensive urban area.

There's no way around the brass tacks of tuition, but students can seek to lower this cost by taking their core curriculum courses through a local community college. In two years, they can take courses like composition, math, and science that are required in all four-year colleges and universities. Students can even graduate with an associate degree that will help prepare them for later coursework in project management. Community colleges charge a fraction of four-year institutions, and some states even provide free or heavily subsidized associate degrees for their residents.

Students should also look for in-state public colleges and universities that support a reputable project management degree program. Those who live in western states can also investigate colleges and universities in states that participate in the western undergraduate exchange program (WUE). This program allows students to pay in-state tuition for public schools in participating states. Individual schools may have their own stipulations regarding the WUE.

Online Options

Our interconnected world has provided plenty of positives, and one relatively new benefit is the option to attend college online. Where students used to have to move far away and adhere to rigid class schedules, they can now stay where they are and virtually attend college degree programs worldwide. Online media offers students many options, which continue to multiply.

Not only can students find degree programs in far-away states and cities but often an online degree can be more affordable than a traditional program. Not only are tuition rates for online degrees frequently lower, but students don't have to move to an expensive town nor even use extra fuel to commute to class. Further, online degrees are often optimal for students who need to keep working while in school. They are also well-suited to certain degrees and programs.

Project management programs in particular are great for online programs. This is because most of the work is conducted by way of reading and writing, two activities that can be conducted on one's laptop. While group projects may sometimes be difficult, since students can be located in different time zones and may have incompatible schedules, this aspect can inform the larger goals of project management. That is, students need to learn how to complete projects no matter what sort of obstacle seems to interfere.

Finally, online degree programs are just as well-respected as traditional degrees. They have the same accreditations as other programs and employers may even respect them more. After all, online students need to have an extra level of discipline and determination to get their work done and complete a degree online.

Are Project Management Programs in High Demand?

Project management has been a profession for decades now. Thus, colleges and universities have caught on to the trend and are now offering project management as a degree unto itself. Since the degree is akin to a general degree in business administration, but with a focus on managing projects in engineering, information technology, and even construction, students have a more focused degree at graduation. These degrees are often found in business schools but may be found under stand-alone departments in smaller colleges.

Given that project management degrees are so versatile, it's no wonder that the programs are in high demand. In fact, many students land jobs with titles such as operations management, project engineer, IT manager, and more. Graduates can also pursue any number of management positions where their ability to organize and motivate teams will come in handy every day. With salaries averaging over $75,000 and bonuses possibly raising that number to six figures, students are lining up to apply for these programs.

Not only do project management students find that they have copious opportunities available to them upon graduation, but opportunities continue to multiply over time. If they decide to add to their skill set by learning more IT skills, for instance, they will only enhance their earnings potential. They can also use their bachelor’s degree to apply for an MBA program with a concentration in project management. They could always alter course in graduate school and concentrate on management, information technology, or supply chain management, among many other options.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Project Management?

It may be more challenging to ask what you cannot do with a degree in project management. That's because project management degree holders are trained to organize and motivate teams of professionals. They not only need to see that their team completes a job for their client or employer, but they also have to tend to administrative details such as payroll, time sheets, travel expenses, and other human resources matters.1

When a job candidate can show that they can juggle many variables at once and still yield top results, they are sure to find work nearly anywhere. Since so many businesses place a high value on employees who can multi-task and return stellar results, project management degree holders are sure to find that their resume receives attention from a wide range of employers. In fact, project management degree holders can often choose their ideal industry and pursue that, with little barrier to entry.

For instance, a degree in project management can help a student land a position in operations working for companies in industries such as automotive manufacturing, software development, or food processing. This is due to the fact that project management students develop skills that involve juggling a variety of variables at once, not to mention achieving an end goal within a set period of time.

Project management is also a terrific background for a job in supply chain management. The organizational skills that are required in SCM are developed in project management degree programs, though some SCM positions do require a high level of computer savvy. Nevertheless, workers with project management skills are more than capable of managing products through a manufacturing process or from point A to point B.

Finally, you can take a degree in project management and apply to graduate school. There are MBA programs that feature project management as a concentration. You can also shift your focus to adjacent concentrations such as management, supply chain management, or information technology.

Project Management Graduates Earn More After College

Project management graduates often find that their degrees translate into terrific earnings after college. Their skill sets are easily adapted to nearly any industry, and those who stick with technology find that opportunities abound. Since they frequently manage highly valuable teams, they are likewise well compensated. After all, even the top management consultants in the nation need a project manager to administer so many factors in their workweek. They need to focus on the client's needs while leaving items such as travel plans and budgeting to the project manager. Project managers assemble teams of professionals who each have the skills needed to get the job done right, and right on time.

The average salary for project managers is over $77,000, which is healthy to say the least. Project managers also collect bonus checks when their teams meet or exceed expectations. When project managers earn an MBA in project management, their earnings can go even higher. According to Payscale.com, when a project manager earns a graduate degree, their earnings rise over $83,000, on average. Those who reach the level of senior project manager are reported to earn over $108,000 and their peers who work as Director of Operations earn an average that exceeds $92,000.

Project management graduates can also increase their earnings with certifications in a number of fields. While most will seek a certification that is specific to project management, they can also add on skills that their teams utilize. For example, if a project manager works with IT professionals, they might become certified in the technologies their team uses. This way they have a deeper knowledge of what's required to complete projects.

FAQs

What are the admission requirements for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in project management?
For a bachelor’s degree, students typically need to have a high school diploma or a GED. They also need satisfactory scores on an admissions examination such as the SAT or ACT. Graduate students also need a diploma, but they must have one that reflects a four-year college degree. Many graduate programs also require admissions examination scores. For a master of science students will likely need GRE scores while MBA candidates need GMAT results.
What is the career outlook for those with a degree in project management?
With a degree in project management, the sky’s the limit. This degree fits into a wide array of diverse and fulfilling careers. Since degree holders are well suited to so many business administration positions, it’s hard to say exactly how fast the field is expanding.
How long does it take to earn a project management degree?
A typical project management bachelor’s degree is designed to take four years. There are programs that combine an MBA with undergraduate studies, and these accelerated programs are designed to be completed in five years. Students who complete a four-year program and then return for a master’s or an MBA spend approximately six years in school, assuming a full-time schedule.
Is a degree in project management worth it?
Absolutely. Students who graduate with a degree in project management are sure to land top entry-level jobs upon graduation. Employers tend to appreciate degrees that are specific yet also deliver skills that have wide application.

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