Top 50 Affordable Project Management Schools

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.

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.