The growth of new organizations and complex management and analytical tools has created a need for leaders with updated skills and credentials. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the addition of 906,800 new management jobs between 2020 and 2030, including positions in facilities, marketing, and financial management. Here, we rank the top online project manager’s master’s programs to give prospective learners a head start in their search.
Top 5 online schools for project management master’s
The best online project management master’s degrees
The following ranking leverages data from the most up-to-date publicly available information. ZDNet’s ranking methodology includes carefully curated information, national datasets, and a proprietary algorithm. Washington, D.C. Application fee: $80 Huntsville, TX Application fee: $50 Platteville, WI Application fee: $56 Duluth, MN Application fee: Free Dallas, TX Application fee: $25 Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
What to expect in an online master’s in project management degree program
Similar to online MBA programs, online project management master’s programs focus on building well-rounded leaders who have a grasp on several different management roles. These programs tend to differ, however, in that project management features more practical training in specific management duties, such as scheduling, costing, and staffing.
Acceptance rate: 41%Graduation rate: 82%Annual net price: $33,719Years to degree: 1 ½ to fourMinimum GMAT score: Test scores may be requiredMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 83%Graduation rate: 60%Annual net price: $14,617Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: 500 Minimum GPA: 2.75Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 85%Graduation rate: 53%Annual net price: $15,718Years to degree: Two to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 2.75Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 76%Graduation rate: 70%Annual net price: $24,066Years to degree: 1 ½ to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 2.8Enrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 90%Graduation rate: 58%Annual net price: $26,387Years to degree: 1 ½ to twoMinimum GMAT score: 425Minimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 68%Graduation rate: 70%Annual net price: $21,485Years to degree: Two to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 30%Graduation rate: 90%Annual net price: $31,165Years to degree: TwoMinimum GMAT score: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: TwoCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 75%Graduation rate: 66%Annual net price: $34,914Years to degree: Two to threeMinimum GMAT score: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 92%Graduation rate: 67%Annual net price: $19,514Years to degree: TwoMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 2.75Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 66%Graduation rate: 61%Annual net price: $31,097Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: SixCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 62%Graduation rate: 35%Annual net price: $20,333Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: Test scores may be requiredMinimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 99%Graduation rate: Not publicly availableAnnual net price: Not publicly availableYears to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 78%Graduation rate: 62%Annual net price: $20,740Years to degree: Two Minimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 2.7-3.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 49%Annual net price: $12,507Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: 72%Graduation rate: 43%Annual net price: $18,869Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: 500Minimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 46%Annual net price: $15,616Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: Not publicly available Enrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 50%Graduation rate: 39%Annual net price: $17,804Years to degree: One to twoMinimum GMAT score: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not publicly availableEnrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 97%Graduation rate: 49%Annual net price: $25,152Years to degree: Two to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: SixCourse delivery method: Asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 58%Graduation rate: 46%Annual net price: $21,745Years to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: N/AMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: RollingCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
Acceptance rate: Not publicly availableGraduation rate: 45%Annual net price: Not publicly availableYears to degree: One to threeMinimum GMAT score: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 3.0Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery method: Asynchronous and synchronous
At the master’s level, project management training combines research, group discussions, and presentations. Programs may conclude with a thesis, a capstone project, or an extensive group project. The type of study available depends on the program format, but online learners may need to attend live virtual classrooms or study independently. The latter requires self-motivation and ambition. Project management master’s programs may come as an MBA concentration or they may offer their own specialization options, such as project management technologies and leadership.
Master’s in project management courses
At the graduate level, project management combines advanced business management training with behavioral sciences. Through coursework, reading, and projects, students learn how to manage people, expectations, and decisions. They also fine tune their communication, leadership, and analytical skills. The courses offered in a project management master’s degree differ between programs, schools, and students. Most programs emphasize similar core courses, such as those listed below.
Strategic Management
In this course, students learn to develop effective strategies based on an organization’s goals and principles. The training covers different methods for organizational and environmental analysis, along with planning techniques and models to improve the execution and implementation.
Project Scheduling
This course teaches students how to use different techniques and technologies for developing a project schedule. Learners look at how to assign resources efficiently and how budgets and staffing can influence schedules.
Project Cost Management
Students in this course learn to create accurate project budgets. The training explores methods for estimating and controlling costs, assigning resources and personnel, and presenting budgets to management.
Scope, Quality, and Risk Management
In this course, students learn how to define and manage the various components of a project. They examine methods for assessing risk and performances, along with ways to make improvements and adjustments on the go.
In conclusion
A project management master’s provides students with widely applicable skills for many leadership positions and organizations. The management field features strong projected growth and median annual wages of $109,760, as per the BLS. Prospective learners can take advantage of this by pursuing one of the programs listed in these rankings. Haven’t earned an undergraduate degree yet? Consider researching bachelor’s in project management degrees.
