Why This Matters
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT JOBS ARE GROWING BY 33% WORLDWIDE
The Project Management Institute forecasts 33% job growth for project managers worldwide. This should create almost 22 million new opportunities within the industry through 2027.
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WORK IN SEVEN DIFFERENT SECTORS
Project managers work in many different industries. Some of the leading sectors for project managers are finance and insurance, information services and publishing, manufacturing and construction, oil and gas, and utilities industries.
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EARN $80,000 OR MORE ANNUALLY
The median annual salary for project management specialists is $80,220. Becoming certified can lead to an even higher salary that averages more than six figures. A master’s degree can help you become certified.
Our Research
We reviewed many Master’s in Project Management degree programs, including both Master of Science (MS) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Online, on-campus, and hybrid programs are all included on our list.
To ensure the quality of these programs, we only considered ones offered by accredited schools. Many are regionally accredited, and a number also have national accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
- 61 hours to write this article
- 189 universities and colleges we assessed
- 209 education programs we compared
The Top 10 Master's in Project Management Degree Programs
Sam Houston State University
Intelligent Pick
Sam Houston State University offers an on-campus Master of Science in Project Management program targeted to working professionals. It prepares students for effective project management careers and addresses all parts of the product life cycle from design to delivery. A distinctive feature of Sam Houston’s program is that it positions students for certification by the Project Management Institute, the premier certifying organization for the project management discipline. Courses include Staffing Organizations, Seminar in Team Leadership, and Tools of Project Management. Faculty have a wealth of real-world and academic experience in areas that include operations management, supply chain management, and marketing.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Huntsville, TX
- Cost per credit: $320.25
- Credits required to graduate: 36
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $9,552
- Graduation rate: 60%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 936-294-1971
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Best for Human Capital Administration
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Master of Science in Project Management prepares students to manage the triple constraints of time, budget, and scope of project. Students can select from three unique degree emphases, including human capital administration. Topics of courses in this specialty include gender and race, organizational development, recruitment, management, and strategic-level human resource activity. The degree takes two years to complete in a hybrid format at the university’s Baraboo Sauk County campus. Transfer students are welcome, and the school offers credit agreements with many schools, as well as credit for select professional credentials in the project management field.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Platteville, WI
- Cost per credit: $219.83 (in-state) $459.25 (out-of-state)
- Credits required to graduate: 36
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $7,700
- Graduation rate: 53%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 877-897-5288
Harrisburg University
Best for Agile Project Management
Harrisburg University’s Master of Science in Project Management degree is a rigorous program with specializations in agile lean, biotechnology, human-centered interaction design, and an individualized track. The program prepares students to earn the nationally recognized Project Management Professional certification. This professional designation shows that a project manager has both the experience and the education to successfully lead projects. Program courses include Professional Communication, Research Methodology and Writing, and Agile Project Management with Scrum Methodology. Harrisburg’s project management degree program is one of only 110 programs around the world to be accredited by the Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
- Cost per credit: $800
- Credits required to graduate: 36
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $9,150
- Graduation rate: 28%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 717-901-5100
New York University
Best for Quality Assurance
New York University offers an on-site Master of Science in Project Management program with a proven track record of job placement. Nearly 96% of the program’s graduates report being employed within six months of graduation. They work for companies and nonprofits in a wide range of industries, including NYC Health + Hospitals, Uncommon Schools, Services for the Blind, and Blue State Digital. Both full-time and part-time options are available for the program, and numerous specializations are available, including quality assurance. When students graduate they’re prepared to sit for the Project Management Professional certification exam and will have completed a capstone focused on enterprise project management.
Things to Consider:
- Location: New York, NY
- Cost per credit: $655.11
- Credits required to graduate: 36
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $18,684
- Graduation rate: 85%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 212-998-7100
Northwestern University
Best for Transportation Management
Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Project Management takes a multidisciplinary approach that blends civil and architectural engineering design, business management, and behavioral science. The pace of the on-site program is flexible with a part-time option that takes 18 to 24 months to complete or a full-time option of 9 to 18 months. Five specializations are offered, including transportation management. All specializations require a capstone project that includes a 20- to 30-page technical report and a 30-minute oral presentation. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in engineering or architecture and at least a 3.0 GPA. Those with different degrees but appropriate work experience and (science, technology, engineering, and math) STEM coursework will also be considered.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Evanston, IL
- Cost per course: $5,005
- Courses required to graduate: 12
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $17,019
- Graduation rate: 95%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 847-491-7246
Boston University
Best Online Program
The Master of Science in Project Management degree at Boston University’s Metropolitan College is an excellent choice for students looking to complete their degree online. Ten online courses and a capstone research project are required, and most students complete the program in 12 to 20 months. An optional concentration in Program & Project Portfolio Management is also available. The same professors who teach the program in person teach the online courses. They’re internationally recognized and research-focused instructors who are also leading experts on topics like methodologies of effective leadership and motivation, cost and risk management, and earned value analysis. A highlight of the program is that institutional scholarships are available.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Boston, MA
- Cost per credit: $732
- Credits required to graduate: 40
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $16,160
- Graduation rate: 86%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 617-353-6000
Georgetown University
Best Part-Time Program
Georgetown University’s Master of Professional Studies in Project Management offers a part-time program that is ideal for working professionals. Part-time students typically take 3 to 6 credits (one to two courses) during the fall and spring semesters. Students are not required to take courses in the summer but can if they choose. Core and foundational courses include Ethics, Agile Fundamentals, and Project Execution and Delivery. A capstone project is also required. Students in the program represent a diverse range of domestic and international backgrounds and bring work experience in a variety of areas like government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Washington, DC
- Cost per credit: $1,483
- Credits required to graduate: 30
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $16,466
- Graduation rate: 94%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 202-687-8700
Northeastern University
Most Rigorous Curriculum
The Master of Science in Project Management at Northeastern University is a highly rigorous program that offers students unique experiential learning opportunities. These opportunities include paid and unpaid cooperative education experiences, commonly called “co-ops,” guided by College of Professional Studies advisors. Depending on co-op activities, the program can be completed between 12 to 18 months. Northeastern offers seven specialized concentrations, including construction management and agile project management. Faculty members are scholar-practitioners and professionals who represent a wide range of industries. Graduates of the program can be found working in engineering, consulting, information technology, project management, and operations at organizations and companies around the world.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Boston, MA
- Cost per credit: $785
- Credits required to graduate: 45
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $16,930
- Graduation rate: 87%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs, PMI-GAC (GAC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 877-668-7727
University of Connecticut
Best for Talent Analytics
Building strong leadership skills is a tenet of the University of Connecticut’s Master of Science in Business Analytics & Project Management degree program. Coursework extends beyond key business issues and into leadership and communication. The flexible program has three start times annually and is available full time or part time at two different UCONN locations. Five industry-driven specializations are offered, including talent analytics. This concentration blends data analytics with purposeful storytelling to channel the power of workforce intelligence. UCONN is one of the only schools in the nation that has dedicated career coaches who are embedded in the program at both locations to support students.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Hartford or Stamford, CT
- Cost per credit: $1,050
- Credits required to graduate: 37
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $13,258
- Graduation rate: 82%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 860-728-2451
Regis University
Best Advisors
Regis University offers an on-site Master of Science in Project Leadership and Management that can be completed in 1 to 2 years. An appeal of this flexible program is that it offers six start dates annually. Required courses include Leading Change and Innovation, Delivering Organization Excellence, and Business Intelligence and Analytics. A capstone on strategic corporate social responsibility is also required. One unusual facet of this program is that it is available to students who do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree via Regis’ innovative FastForward Program. Admissions and academic advisors are available to explain and facilitate this unique opportunity for qualified students.
Things to Consider:
- Location: Denver, CO
- Cost per credit: $920
- Credits required to graduate: 30
- Academic calendar: Traditional semester
- Room and board: $12,460
- Graduation rate: 57%
More Program Information:
- Accreditation: Accreditation: Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 303-458-4900
Other Master’s in Project Management Degree Programs to Consider
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About This Degree
Master of Science and Master of Business Administration programs both examine project management topics, but they have different emphases. MS programs tend to be more technically focused and may require a research thesis. MBA programs incorporate more general business courses and don’t normally require a thesis. Consider your professional goals, and choose whichever option will better position you for a successful career.
An alternative to either type of master’s program is a graduate certificate in project management. A certificate takes a shorter duration and is narrowly focused on project management. It might be suitable if you only need a few credits to obtain certification or if you already have another master’s degree. Notably, federal financial aid is unavailable for certificate programs.
Many online programs can be completed largely over the internet, but they might have a brief in-person component. Make sure you can meet any in-person requirement that a program has before applying.
Certification in the project management field is optional, but many employers look for one or more certifications in their job applicants. Thus, it’s helpful in landing competitive jobs and advancing your career. Keep certification exam fees in mind as you evaluate the financial obligation of enrolling in one of these programs.
What’s Next?
As you continue to research the different Master’s in Project Management degrees, keep these questions in mind:
- Am I eligible for this program? Check a program’s minimum eligibility requirements before applying so that you can confirm that you qualify for the program. Some of these degrees require applicants to have an undergraduate degree in a specific field or a certain amount of professional experience.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? The vast majority of these programs are between 30 and 36 credits, which typically takes two years of full-time study to complete. A few programs run longer.
When you have a list of potential programs, investigate their admissions processes. You’ll need to find out what admissions materials each program wants and the relevant application deadlines. You can get this information from each program’s website or by contacting the admissions office directly.
Also consider the financial obligation of enrolling in a program. Talk with programs about their financial aid and scholarship opportunities. You might also be able to get tuition reimbursement from an employer if you’re currently working.