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2023 Best Online Construction Management Degrees

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 12/16/2022

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An online bachelor's degree in construction management is designed to help students learn the professional building trade. This practice requires just as much understanding of building materials as it does people management. Programs cover a wide variety of subjects — ranging from cost and bidding practices to the laws and ethics surrounding construction. Upon graduation, students are prepared to oversee construction projects, including scheduling contractors, instituting safety measures, and managing quality control and compliance. Students may find similar outcomes in an engineering management degree or a more generalized management degree if they want to keep their industry options open. 

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List Of Accredited Online Construction Management Schools

School Online Enrollment Annual Tuition
Purdue University Global 28,447 28,447 $14,358 $14,358
St. Petersburg College 10,306 $9,286
Park University 5,473 $11,190
Seminole State College of Florida 4,432 $11,456
University of Alaska Anchorage 2,401 $28,084
Indiana State University 1,894 $20,160
National University 1,849 $13,320
Tarleton State University 1,700 $17,621
University of Southern Mississippi 1,665 $10,896
National American University Online 1,591 $10,575

Purdue University Global

  • Annual Tuition: $14,358
  • Locations: Indianapolis (IN)
  • Accreditation: HLC

Purdue University Global is a public university offering an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Construction Management that requires 180 credit hours. Typically, students complete this program in around four years of full-time study. The acceptance rate at Purdue is 100%, with 30% of students reaching their degrees.

At Purdue, students use Brightspace to engage with their remote programs, which are all taken online. Courses are delivered in a blended synchronous and asynchronous format. This construction management program is designed to prepare students for supervisory roles in construction projects by providing insight into building materials, cost efficacy, project management, and construction law. Required classes include Fundamentals of Construction Management, Construction Methods and Materials, and Construction Cost Estimating. Graduates may explore roles as construction managers.

St. Petersburg College

  • Annual Tuition: $9,286
  • Locations: Clearwater (FL)
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

St. Petersburg College (SPC) is a public institution with an online Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainability Management requiring 120 credit hours. Students studying full time are likely to complete the degree in about four years.

SPC uses Brightspace to deliver online coursework. This software allows students to finish their degrees completely online and on a schedule that meets their needs. The core curriculum is designed to develop students' working knowledge of sustainable business practices. Among the program highlights is a focus on green construction, which includes various courses: Materials and Methods of Construction, An Introduction to Solar Energy in Residential Construction, and Environmental Technology for Building Construction. Students are also required to complete a senior capstone project in sustainability management. Graduates are most likely to pursue sustainability manager roles in the energy sector.

Park University

  • Annual Tuition: $11,190
  • Locations: Parkville (MO)
  • Accreditation: HLC

Park University is a private university with an online Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This degree requires 120 credit hours which full-time students can complete in four years. All students are accepted into Park University, with 25% finishing with a degree.

Park University students use Canvas as their primary learning management system (LMS), where they can complete courses remotely and at the convenience of their personal schedules. The curriculum for this program blends business management and construction management skills, allowing students to engage in relevant topics, such as budget planning, project organization, and plans analysis. Among the required classes are Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Construction Managers, Project Management/Critical Path Analysis, and Construction Project Management. Students are also required to complete a student seminar and writing intensive. Career opportunities may be available after graduation as facilities managers, site engineers, and building surveyors.

Seminole State College of Florida

  • Annual Tuition: $11,456
  • Locations: Sanford (FL) (and 3 others)
  • Accreditation: SACS COC

Seminole State College of Florida is a public university that hosts a Bachelor of Science in Construction. In order to receive this degree, students must complete 126 credit hours, which is typically done within four years. However, part-time students may take longer to graduate. Seminole State's acceptance rate is 100%, with 41% of students graduating with a degree.

Online students use Canvas to complete their coursework, which is delivered online and in a blended synchronous/asynchronous format. The curriculum is designed to lead students toward a general contractor license by providing practical experience through construction projects. There are a number of required courses, such as Applied Statics in Construction, Soil Mechanics and Foundations, and Structures. Internships and job shadowing opportunities are also available. Graduates may find employment as construction managers, cost estimators, and general contractors.

University of Alaska Anchorage

  • Annual Tuition: $28,084
  • Locations: Anchorage (AK)
  • Accreditation: NWCCU

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a public university offering a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, which requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. If studying full time, students can complete this program in approximately four years. UAA accepts 77% of its applicants, with 32% of students earning degrees.

At UAA, students use the Blackboard LMS to access their courses, which are taught completely online. Courses are offered in a blended format, with some lectures being on a set schedule, while other classes are in an asynchronous format. The curriculum for this program features general courses in physics, chemistry, and accounting, while the major explores a wide array of construction industry subjects and practices. Required courses include Fundamentals of Construction Documents, Methods and Materials of Building Construction, and Structural Technology. Upon graduation, students should have a firm understanding of how to manage a multi-disciplinary team, and they may find employment as entry-level construction managers.

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Online Construction Management Degree Overview & Career Information

As a vocational program, an associate degree in construction management will teach students to plan and schedule construction projects, deliver presentations, and supervise construction sites. The associate degree curriculum for construction management covers construction fundamentals and other areas, such as construction methods and materials, cost estimating, project scheduling, and safety planning and administration.

Construction management bachelor’s programs equip students with fundamental skills in construction as well as business management knowledge. Examples of some of the subjects covered during the bachelor’s program include building codes and standards, construction methods and materials, contract administration, and cost estimation and analysis.

Master's degrees prepare students for advanced positions in construction management or construction academia and allow students to specialize in a particular area, such as real estate, construction technology, or finance. Courses may cover legal issues, business planning, land use analysis, and real estate development. Master’s programs require extensive research, and some programs require students to complete a thesis.

Online Bachelor's Degrees in Construction Management

The construction management bachelor's program teaches students the skills for managing complex construction projects. These programs take four years to complete; some are bachelor's-completion degrees that allow students to transfer credits from a two-year associate degree. Applicants do not need experience in construction, but they do need a high school diploma or GED, and some bachelor’s programs require scores from an ACT or SAT test.

Approximately half of a CM student's course load consists of general education courses and prerequisites. Before a student can begin construction management courses, they may have to study communications, business, math, finance, economics, and English composition. Some schools require all students to take science, art, and foreign language classes, as well.

CM courses train students to succeed at managing the employees on a work site, developing a project budget, and ensuring that work teams stick to schedules. Students study both the theoretical and practical aspects of construction management. Some schools also require that construction management students study architecture and contracting. Other courses include project control and management, site construction and management, construction safety management, and mechanical systems.

Graduates of the bachelor's program are prepared for entry-level positions such as cost estimator, field engineer, project manager assistant, or scheduler. Professional experience is important in the construction industry, and graduates may have better job opportunities after they complete a year or two of job-site experience. In most cases, bachelor’s programs require students to take a capstone course.

Accreditation

Accrediting agencies are independent, non-governmental bodies that conduct evaluations of schools and degree programs to assess their viability and their ability to provide a valuable education. Institutional accreditation applies to entire schools, while programmatic accreditation applies to a particular type of degree program. The US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditations provide recognition for regional and national agencies at the institutional and programmatic level.

The American Council for Construction Education and The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering are both recognized by the USDE and CHEA as specialized, programmatic accrediting agencies for construction management education. In most cases, schools offering online degrees in construction management are also accredited by regional or national accrediting bodies, such as the Distance Education Training Council.

Choosing a construction management degree program that has been accredited by one of these agencies will help ensure that you will receive an education that reflects the highest academic standards. It will also enable you to transfer your credits to other accredited institutions and to utilize any financial aid you might be granted. Unaccredited programs cannot guarantee this.

Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Management Degrees

What is the difference between a degree in construction management and a degree in civil engineering?

Although the two fields are closely related and many people who earn degrees in civil engineering find employment in managing or overseeing construction sites, the two degree programs are very different. In a civil engineering degree program, students will focus more on the planning and design of buildings and other types of construction. For example, they will study the characteristics of commonly-used construction materials and how they interact with the building site. Students in a construction management degree program, on the other hand, are going to focus on the implementation of a design from a business perspective. For example, they will study project control and management, construction safety management, financial controls, contracting, and other business transactions.

What is the demand for construction managers in the near future?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career opportunities for construction managers in the next decade are promising. Demand for educated construction managers is expected to grow at a rate of 10%, which is faster than the average for most other occupations. Many of these job opportunities will be found in states where the population is increasing, such as Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Florida, due to the increased need for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings in those areas.

How much can I earn with an online degree in construction management?

Construction managers who hold a bachelor's degree can expect to earn a median annual salary of $97,180, and the highest paid 10% of construction managers earn $169,070 annually.

This website offers school details to prospective students as an informational resource. The appearance of a school listing on this website should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the school by this site.

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