Quick Highlights:
- Our #1 ranked school for a master’s in project management is Penn State World Campus, followed by George Washington University.
- The programs are often flexible, offering full-time and part-time options tailored for working professionals.
- Many programs include practical training, industry connections, and are accredited by reputable bodies such as PMI.
- Many schools offer an online option, making advanced education in project management accessible worldwide.
An MBA is one of the most common degrees professionals get when going back to school. So much so that it seems like everyone is pursuing one. It’s difficult to stand out in the professional world sometimes. Students looking to advance their leadership skills might be searching for a degree that combines:
- Finance
- Leadership
- Ethics
- Human Resources
This will make companies stand and take notice. If a Master’s degree in Project Management has never come up, it’s time to start thinking about quality schools that offer this career field.
Our editors first reviewed the Top Project Management Master’s Degrees article in July 2016. This ranking was last updated in December 2023.
Do You Want to Become a Project Management Professional?
We have rounded up 10 of the Best Online Master’s degrees in Project Management. Many of these project management master’s degrees are from prestigious universities. All offer accredited programs by top accreditation bodies. Many are certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI) itself. They offer different levels of tuition and different types of online formats. All are directed by current experts in the field.
To supply you with the best of the best in Master’s in Project Management degree programs, we considered the following points when compiling this list, such as:
- The school’s ability to provide a quality Master’s degree program in the field of Project Management,
- Offering various learning degree formats, such as online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework,
- Has an excellent reputation and has earned applicable awards in the field,
- Taught by professionals in the field of Project Management,
- Offers financial aid opportunities, such as federal loans, scholarships, and grants,
- Displays proper accreditation, pursuant to the field of Project Management,
- Prepares graduates for career placement in Project Management.
Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@www.collegerank.net.
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Per Credit Hour Tuition and Average Net Tuition Disclaimer: The tuition amounts given are estimates and subject to change.
The 10 Top Master’s in Project Management
Penn State World Campus
Penn State has been offering distance learning courses for over 100 years. It brings that expertise to the area of online learning. It was also one of the first major brick-and-mortar colleges to offer online education. It offers a 30-hour problem-based learning master’s that can be completed in as little as two years. It is accredited by both the AACSB and PMI.
The program is headed by Dr. Jeffrey K. Pinto, a world-renowned scholar in the field of project management, and follows the PMBOK guide as well as the European model (APM). Penn State has partnered with global corporations such as Rolls-Royce to deliver a curriculum that prepares students to design and implement every facet of a project from start to finish.
What does PMBOK stand for? Project Management Body of Knowledge
Students can take a 12-hour Project Management online Certificate course that is the first four courses of the master’s program, giving students the chance to try out Penn State’s online program before completing the master’s degree. All 12 hours from the certificate can be applied to the full master’s program.
Students can tailor the program to their interests and career choices and can add electives such as Enterprise Architecture and Supply Chain Management. Penn State has been recognized as a Best Online Programs university by U.S. News and World Report.
George Washington University
George Washington is a prestigious university block from the White House where students are presented with the first philosophies and economic theories of our time. George Washington offers two online project management graduate degrees:
- Master of Science in Project Management
- Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management
The Master of Science in Project Management is 36 credit hours. It provides leadership training and practical management training. Students take courses such as Project Portfolio Management and Executive Decision-Making.
The MBA with a concentration in Project Management allows students to customize their business core courses with a specialization. The MBA is 52 credit hours. Students take courses such as Operations Management and Organization and Leadership.
George Washington is ranked in the top 50 in 5 different categories for online schools and i
Boston University
Students at Boston University can find two different Project Management master’s degrees, one in traditional project management and one in computer science with an emphasis on IT project management. Both programs are accredited by the Project Management Institute. Both programs are also accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development. The BU graduate school is also certified by AACSB International.
There are 12 required classes to complete the project management graduate program. BU also offers a certificate program that can be applied in full to the graduate program. Students can also apply for some credits from the master’s to a second certificate in Administrative Sciences.
Students in the Project Management track take courses such as:
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Quantitative and Qualitative Decision Making
Students in the IT track take courses such as:
- Quantitative Methods for Information Systems
- Database Design and Implementation
The graduate school is ranked #6 online graduate business school by US News and World Report.
Lehigh University
Students at Lehigh University can complete an MBA with one of six concentrations being Project Management. The MBA curriculum focuses on Leadership, Global Business, Sustainability and Crisis Management. Students take the core MBA foundation classes and then can choose an area of concentration to complete their degree.
The Project Management Concentration prepares students for the changing world of management. Courses within this specialty include:
- Decision Making
- Controlling Performance and Assessing Outcomes
- Project Leader Communications and Evaluating Team Performance
Northeastern University
Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies offers two tracks, a Master of Science in Project Management and a Master of Science in Leadership with a specialization in Project Management.
The MS in Project Management prepares students to handle:
- Project Cost and Estimation
- Risk Management
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Evaluation
The MS in Leadership with a specialization in Project Management allows students to build and strengthen leadership skills. They focus on topics like Management and Ethics, Strategic Thinking, and Organizational Culture with classes on specialized topics managing troubled projects. It is a 45 to 46 credit hour program.
Purdue University
Purdue College of Technology offers a unique blend of Project Management and the IT sector. IT is one of the fastest-growing job markets in the world. While many people are pursuing degrees in development and coding, it’s possible to work in this market without the pressure of becoming a full-stack developer.
An MS in IT Project Management allows students to design and implement major projects in IT still using the Project Management Body of Knowledge. The degree is divided into eight-week sessions and requires 34 credit hours to complete. It can be completed in as little as 11 months or as long as five years, though generally students complete the program in 2 years.
Purdue does charge in-state and out-of-state tuition, but the difference is currently less than $50. On average, depending on the length of time taken to complete the degree, it costs less than $30,000 to complete. Purdue is highly ranked by US News and World Report in virtually every department, including 41st in online graduate schools. According to www.payscale.com, Purdue is 57th in best return on investment.
Norwich University
Norwich University was founded as the nation’s first private military university in 1819. It has strived to offer the best quality programs for continuing education students through its online programs. It is ranked in the top 100 best schools for veterans.
Norwich University’s MBA program offers a Project Management component. It allows business students to hone their leadership and management skills. Students enter the program after completing rigorous foundational classes in business so that they have an understanding of the true scope of Project Management.
The Business School is certified by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The Project Management curriculum is certified by the Project Management Institute. There are four start dates per year, making it flexible for when you are ready to begin.
Norwich charges an all-inclusive cost for degree completion, currently around $31,000. Classes are designed to work around the schedules of working professionals. They can be completed while working full-time. The curriculum is divided into six courses. On average it takes about 18 months to complete to start work as project managers.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry Riddle’s program was created by certified PMPs and is certified by the PMI. Students gain real-world skills focusing on:
- Leadership
- Risk Management
- Human Resources
- Critical Thinking
The master’s in project management is 30 credit hours. It culminates in a capstone project where students build an e-portfolio showcasing the skills needed to be project leaders. Much of the coursework is collaborative, like the real world.
Embry-Riddle is rated the number 4 most innovative school by US News and World Report as well as the number 8 college in the South. The school offers a generous discount to active military, their spouses, and dependents up to the age of 26. Tuition for nonmilitary is currently around $806 and $675 for the military.
University of Denver
University of Denver’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies offers students the chance to learn project management from beginning to end. It has courses such as:
- Finance Development
- Contracts and Procurement
- Legal Issues
One benefit of the program is that it does not require a GMAT or GRE to apply, reducing the step to achieving a degree. The entire master’s in project management is 12 courses and the terms are ten weeks. It follows the Project Management Body of Knowledge system, preparing students to ace the Project Management Professional Certification Exam.
Directly on the website, students can begin to tailor and plan their degree to match their requirements for long-term career planning. They can choose electives from any of the classes in the leadership and organization department and specializations.
The University of Denver has a much higher-than-average returning student percentage as well as graduation rate compared to similar universities.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers two different online degrees in project management, an MBA in Project Management, and an MS in Operations and Project Management. They are a registered education provider (REP) of the Project Management Institute.
The MBA is 39 credit hours and encompasses broad business-based strategies to plan, adapt, and monitor a project from start to finish. Students take courses to prepare them as project managers such as:
- Operations
- Six Sigma Quality Management
- Responsible Corporate Leadership
The online MS in Operations and Project Management is a 36-hour curriculum. It is designed to link operational management with valuable business skills. Students take courses such as Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making and Operations Management.
Both courses are asynchronous meaning that students can complete classwork whenever available, 24/7. There is no GMAT or GRE required. The project management degree can be completed in as few as 15 months at two classes per 8-week term.
Frequently Asked Questions
A masters in project management is worth it for three primary reasons. First, it results in advanced skills that enable you to perform more complex tasks and do so competently. Second, having a masters degree qualifies you for more jobs and higher pay. And third, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growing need for qualified project managers in the next decade, giving you more job opportunities in diverse fields.
The average masters degree costs more than $65,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. Tuition and fees vary from one program to the next, so you might pay more or less depending on the school you attend. Other factors that influence the cost of college include your status as an in-state or out-of-state student, whether you study in-person or online (online degrees tend to be less expensive), and the amount of financial aid you receive.
A master’s in project management is usually between 30-45 credit hours. The length of the program varies based on its specific focus and the requirements to graduate as established by the school. Most programs explore the five processes of project management, including initiating, planning, and executing projects. You’ll also learn how to monitor projects and close them out with success. :
Likewise, project management master’s programs often touch on the ten areas of knowledge, including integration, scope, and time. Cost, human resources, and quality are additional areas of exploration. The following round out the ten primary areas of study:
• Procurement
• Risk Management
• Communications
• Stakeholder Management
Most project management graduate programs require at least two years of full-time studies to complete. However, programs vary widely in the number of required credits, affecting the graduation timeline. A 30-credit program might take three semesters to finish. A 45-credit program might require five or more semesters. Studying part-time will extend your time to finish a program even further.
A masters in project management is no more difficult than any other masters program. You will study complex topics like strategic management and organizational leadership. You will also develop high-level skills related to organizations, communication, and team-building. However, these skills and topics are not difficult to master if you dedicate yourself to your studies and put forth the effort needed to be successful.
Most project management graduates become project managers in various fields, like IT, construction, and health care. With time and experience, these roles often lead to higher positions, like Senior Project Manager. Other common roles include the following:
• Project Coordinator
• Program Manager
• Project Scheduler
• Consultant
• Director of Program Management
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, project managers earn a median salary of $100,750. Project managers can make anywhere from $59,830 to more than $165,790 per year, though. Your earning potential depends on numerous factors, including your education level and experience. Other factors affecting salary include your employer, the geographic location where you work, and the industry in which you work.