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Online Project Management Degree Guide

Guide to Campus and Online Project Management Degree Programs

Thank you for visiting Project Management Degree, the only non-profit website devoted to providing individuals with straightforward and unbiased information about accredited project management degrees. On this website you will find the only complete and updated list of project management schools online, as well as our FAQ section which answers many of students most common questions about obtaining a project management degree. If you have any comments or questions, please Contact Us.

Full Guide to Accredited Schools with Project Management Degrees

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1) What types of Project Management Degrees Exist?

Because there are so many different areas, there are also many specializations in project management degrees, as well as degrees with different concentrations in project management. Below is a list of just some of the degrees available.

  1. Associate of Project Management (A. of P.M.)
    Because project managers are often required to have a bachelor’s degree or higher, an associate’s degree in the field is rarely sought.
  2. Bachelor of Arts of Project Management (B.A. of P.M.)
    This undergraduate degree has more of a focus on the artistic side of learning including history, literature, and related topics.
  3. Bachelor of Science of Project Management (B.S. of P.M.)
    Because the degree concentrates more on the math and sciences, it is more commonly offered than the above.
  4. Bachelor of Business Administration of Project Management (B.B.A. of P.M.)
    The undergraduate version of an M.B.A., it is a popular choice for those going into the business end of project management.
  5. Master of Arts of Project Management (M.A. of P.M.)
    This advanced degree is one of the many graduate degrees offered in project management. Like many other degrees, it is available online or in person.
  6. Master of Science of Project Management (M.S. of P.M.)
    Students can choose from a general Master of Science in Project Management or in several specialties in the area.
  7. Master of Business Administration of Project Management (M.B.A. of P.M.)
    The M.B.A. has grown to become one of the most prestigious and sought after of degrees. Project Management is just one of the many concentrations offered with it.
  8. Doctorate of Project Management (Ph.D. of P.M.)
    Those who wish to teach project management or go into research in the area are most likely to choose this degree.

And the above are just some of the project management degrees available. Because project managers go into areas such as construction, business, software, information technology, and many others, students who have a degree in each respective field can also become project managers.

2) Where Can I Find Project Management Degree Rankings?

There is no one stop shop for ranking schools that offer project management degrees. The most important thing to consider when choosing a school is seeing if it is accredited or not. The easiest way to know is to do a search on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. It is run by the U.S. Department of Education and allows you to type in the name of the school to see if and when it was accredited. You can also do a search for schools by state or for internships, residencies, and programs.

Be wary of any site that offers project management degree rankings. Although they may have gone to great lengths to pick schools, they are chosen based on their own criteria. The student and his or her family are ultimately the ones who have to put in the time and the money and rankings based on acceptance rates, visibility, diversity, or other may not be what they are looking for in a school.

If some other form of recognition is vital, try the Project Management Institute. They have a Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education that offers accreditation to institutions that meet their standards. Visit to see which are currently approved. Another good choice is the Council on Occupational Education. They also accredit post-secondary occupational institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, or applied associate degree programs in many areas. Click on resources to see which associations are also approved and accredited.

3) Can I Transfer Project Management Degree Credits?

Many students are concerned about whether their credits will transfer
from one school to another. If you already have a college degree or credits earned, transferring them to the project management degree school of your choice is important. This will allow the student to bypass many core classes and even some specialties, depending on many factors. The most essential component to transferring credits is knowing which schools they will be accepted from and to. Because this is so vital to saving both time and money, it is important to speak with a school’s guidance and/or admissions office to if credits can be transferred, how much can be transferred, and where they can transfer to in the future.

One of the biggest roadblocks to transferring credit involves nationally accredited and regionally accredited schools. Although they may both be listed on the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, credits may not be necessarily transferred from or to schools accredited by different agencies. When doing a search for accrediting agencies, note the difference between national and regional ones as they may not always transfer.

And national vs. regional accreditation is not the only way in which a school can refuse transfer credits. There are a host of other factors including location, level of education offered, admission requirements, and many others. Be sure and investigate with the school you are entering to make sure that if and when you choose to transfer your credits, you have the widest choice possible.

If you already have a college degree, credit transfers are even easier. For example, someone with an associate’s degree can get a bachelor’s degree in about half the time. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, it can take as little as two years to earn a graduate degree in project management. Some online programs can even offer a master’s degree in as little as 18 months with a qualifying bachelor’s degree.

4) What Sorts of Careers are Available with a Project Management Degree?

Whenever a new product or project is developed or implanted, a project manager usually oversees it. Everything from plastics to skyscrapers have project managers to see to the day to day duties of the work and oversee other workers. Below, we have gathered some of the areas that are in need of project managers.

  1. Project Coordinator
    One of the entry level positions, they can be hired with little to no experience required. The focus of the job is to do lighter tasks and take the burden off project managers.
  2. Assistant Project Manager
    Work side by side with experienced project managers in this position to help accomplish tasks and learn the ropes.
  3. Associate Project Manager
    This is another entry level position in project management. Often works with other P.M.’s to oversee a project.
  4. Construction Project Manager
    Supervise the building of residential homes, commercial properties, or both in this career. Knowledge of codes, guidelines, and safety protocols are a must.
  5. Information Technology Project Manager
    Working with computers, servers, and entire networks is the focus here. These project managers work on the I.T. side to build and maintain computer systems.
  6. Software Project Manager
    Because all software is constantly updated, project managers are needed to oversee the development and improvement of existing and new software.
  7. Product Manager
    This professional focuses on a specific product, its manufacturing, promotion, and even pricing.
  8. Business Project Manager
    Often working in a corporate setting, the business project manager may be assigned tasks like working with clients, company infrastructure, and much more.
  9. Contract Project Manager
    These professionals often hire themselves out on a contract basis and do not have the same responsibilities of a full time project manager. Applying skills to new situations and working well with strangers are a must.
  10. Senior Project Manager
    It takes about ten years of experience as a project manager to become a senior project manager, but they will have a long track record of skills and knowledge of a specific or a multitude of project management tasks.

Like many other careers, experience is key when moving up the project manager ladder. Career advancement for project managers involves knowledge of respective area of employment, the ability to delegate, supervise, and motivate others to complete a project on time and under budget.

5) How do I Become a Project Manager?

Education is definitely a must when becoming a project manager. At least a bachelor’s degree in project management or related is required, but many positions ask for a master’s degree in the area. A certification in project management may also be asked of. One of the most popular choices is the Project Management Professional. The PMP certification shows an employer that the holder is knowledgeable in scheduling, budgeting, and other resources essential for project managers.

In addition to education, experience is a must when moving into any management position, including project management. Because the field is so high in demand, many companies offer opportunities to students to visit and work on job sites. Check with your school’s counseling office to see who is offering internships, work for study, or even paid opportunities for students looking to go into project management.

Once education and experience are obtained, a certification may be sought, but none is necessary for project management. Licenses, building permits, and other official documents may be required depending on the area of project management sought. For example, a construction project manager who is building a house often has to turn in plans to the city for approval and have inspectors visit often to make sure work is up to standards and that workers have a safe environment.

The more experience one has as a project manager, the more opportunities become available, the more salary is offered, and the more options for advancement are available. If you know which employer you would like to work for, contact their human resources offices to learn what they require of project managers. If your current employer has project managers on staff, set up a time to meet with them and discuss how you can become a project manager.

6) What is the Average Salary of a Project Manager?

As stated previously, experience makes for the most demand in project managers. Other factors, such as location and employer, also influence pay. However, the average annual salary for everyone from assistant to senior project manager can be far above the national average.

Starting at the more entry level positions, Glassdoor.com currently has an average annual salary of $42,319 to $55,203 for project coordinators. If able to find work as an assistant project manager for a company like IBM, current median yearly pay is $72,847.

Area of employment also makes a difference when going into fields such as construction, information technology, and software development. Payscale uses national salary data to put the average annual wages of project managers in an area such as construction at $82,578. The same site reports that information technology project managers make a median yearly pay of $89,062. The best paid of these three is software development project managers with average annual pay at $91,098.

Large companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and related are likely to pay higher than smaller or mid-sized ones. Payscale also lists the top paying cities for project managers in the following order: New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston. Pay ranges from $79,498 to $133,920 for certified project managers in these five cities. Senior Project Managers can also make up to fifty percent more and beyond than project managers who have less experience.

7) Where Can I Find Project Management Degree Scholarships and Grants?

Paying for a degree in project management can be a daunting task. To help, we have gathered just a few resources to help pay for education.

  1. FAFSA
    The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a requirement of financial aid offices of many schools. Take your time when filling out and be sure to renew every year.
  2. College.gov
    Learn the basics of paying for college on this U.S. Department of Education site. The How to Pay tab includes financial aid 101, along with information on scholarships and grants.
  3. Students.gov
    Similar to the above, once you have learned the basics of paying for a project management degree, come here to get a little more advanced advice on paying for your education.
  4. PMP Exam Prep Scholarship
    If looking to get a certification in project management, click here. Sponsored by RMC, qualifications include five years of experience as a project manager, current unemployment, U.S. citizenship, and others.
  5. Stand Out Scholarship
    This scholarship is offered by the professionals at ESI International. They are offering over half a million dollars to those looking to go into work as project managers, business analysts, and general business professionals.
  6. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
    If studying overseas in a Masters in Strategic Project Management course, this scholarship is available.
  7. Academic Project Management Scholarships
    The Project Management Institute keeps a list of local scholarships available to those looking to get a project management degree. Deadlines, links, and criteria are listed for each.
  8. Scholarships
    Get connected to over 19 billion dollars’ worth of scholarships on this site. Simply sign up to begin.
  9. Fastweb
    Similar to the above, this is another site that matches those who register with scholarships. Everyone from high school students to current college students and even parents are encouraged to visit.

When looking for scholarships over the web, be wary of those who charge an upfront fee. Unlike schools who have application process fees, a scholarship or grant should be free to apply for. A good sign of a scam is someone who guarantees to award you a scholarship or grant in exchange for money. If unsure, contact your current or future school’s counseling office to get their recommendation.

There are differences and similarities to scholarships and grants. While grants are specifically given out on a needs basis, some scholarships have similar requirements. However, many scholarships ask for academic achievements, carry a minimum grade point average, and often ask for an essay or other written entry. The best part of both is that neither needs to be paid back and both are essentially free money for school.

There are also other ways to pay for school besides scholarships or grants. Many schools have work for study programs or other positions that allow students to work in exchange for tuition. The school loan is also another staple of paying for an education. If looking to go this route, be sure and get competing bids for school loans to ensure the best rate, terms, etc.

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