This is a list of schools and programs that focus on The Cheapest Online Construction Management Degree in The U.S. Follow along with us!
Many dedicated construction professionals are interested in finding an accelerated online Master’s in Construction Management Program that fits their needs. It’s not a strange demand; employers are now looking for graduate students who have graduated from accredited programs in construction management.
While a master’s in project management might be helpful, a specialized construction management degree is a better bet. As the need for qualified candidates in this field grows, so too does the demand for affordable and accelerated programs that can be completed in just two years.
Working professionals do want to go back to get their master’s degree, but they need more than just a program that’s online. They need flexible and affordable programs that fit around their professional obligations. They also need programs, like the ones listed below, that provide them with a firm timeline that sees them graduate in two years or less.
Featured Schools:
Methodology: Ranking the Most Affordable Online Construction Management Master’s Degree Accelerated Programs
For students who want their affordable master’s in construction management to pay off, Fast Online Master’s editors feature only accredited, reputable colleges and universities. These schools have been ranked according to their average tuition, using IPEDS data.
1. University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso offers an MS in Construction Management program that offers the same tuition to instate and out-of-state residents. UT’s affordable online master’s in construction management degree requires degree candidates to complete thirty semester units to graduate. Additionally, UTEP’s affordable online construction management master’s degree program prepares students for American Institute of Constructors certification by requiring a relevant internship at an approved government agency or construction business.
The University of Texas at El Paso was established in 1914 and is a member school of the state’s university system. UTEP generates the most Hispanic engineers who hold a graduate degree. The school’s stadium is home to the Sun Bowl each year. The University of Texas at El Paso’s campus overlooks the Rio Grande River and serves approximately 15,050 students.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
2. University of Washington
The University of Washington’s Continuum College offers an MS in Construction Management that is available 100% online. This affordable online master’s in construction management degree program is available to be completed in twelve months for full-time students or up to three years for part-time students. Coursework for the University of Washington’s affordable online construction management master’s degree includes 42 credit units of classes like energy infrastructure, cost analysis, environmental regulations, and construction procurement systems, to name a few.
Founded in the early-1860s before Washington became a state, the University of Washington now operates as a space and sea-grant, flagship school with a student enrollment of more than 16,050 students and more than two dozen libraries on the school’s campus. The University of Washington maintains several campuses and is recognized as one of the oldest schools in the American West.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
3. University of New Mexico
Degree candidates enrolled in the University of New Mexico’s affordable online construction management master’s degree program that mandates degree candidates to complete a minimum of thirty semester credits at the graduate level. Classes include construction materials, engineering project management, and the global history of construction, among others.
Founded in the late-1880s, the University of New Mexico (UNM) now operates with the main campus in Albuquerque, and additional campuses in Los Lunas, Tao, Los Alamos, Gallup, and Rio Rancho. The school’s campuses cover more than 600 acres and serve approximately 26,050 students. The University of New Mexico was founded by the legislature of the New Mexico territory.
Degree: Master of Construction Management
4. Purdue University
Purdue University offers an MS in Construction Management program that is considered among the top & most affordable online construction management masters degree programs according to BestMastersPrograms.org. Students graduate from Purdue University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program and enter the workforce as building inspectors, project managers, construction consultants, and construction foremen, to name a few. Classes for this graduate construction degree include 33 credit hours in risk management, construction operations, and managing construction quality and production, to name a few.
Established by the General Assembly in 1869, Purdue University is a land, sea, and space-grant school that serves approximately 45,750 students vying for nearly 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Purdue University is organized into thirteen academic colleges/schools.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
5. Eastern Kentucky University
The Business and Technology College at Eastern Kentucky University offers an MS in Technology Management with an academic concentration in Construction Management that is among Kentucky’s most affordable online construction management masters degree programs. Recent graduates of Eastern Kentucky University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program have been employed by Ashland, Messer Construction, and Lockheed Martin, to name a few. Classes for the construction management program include economics for lean operations, LEED principles, statistical methods for business, and construction portfolio management, among others.
Founded in the mid-1870s as a public institution of higher education, Eastern Kentucky University now operates as a space-grant school with multiple campuses in Richmond, Manchester, Hazard, Corbin, and Lancaster that serves nearly 16,100 students. US News ranks Eastern Kentucky University among the top colleges for veterans and among the top regional southern universities.
Degree: MS in Technology Management – Construction Management
6. East Carolina University
The Construction Management Department within East Carolina University offers a stem-related MS in Construction Management (MSCM) program that is one of North Carolina’s affordable online masters in construction management degree programs. Core coursework for Eastern Carolina’s affordable online construction management masters degree program includes risk analysis in construction, global management of construction, green building, residential project risk management, legal implications of design/construction, and advanced cost estimating, to name a few.
East Carolina University was founded in 1907 as a teacher’s training institute and is now a member of the UNC university system. The school maintains various campuses that cover more than 1,500 acres and serves nearly 29,950 students. Additionally, East Carolina University maintains an academic facility internationally in Italy. East Carolina University also operates a coastal studies operation in New Holland that supports the coastal studies and biology degree programs.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
7. Florida International University
Florida International University’s Moss Construction Department offers an MS in Construction Management that ranks among the Sunshine State’s most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs. Students enrolled in Florida International University’s affordable online construction management masters degree program have the option of completing the program as a hybrid-delivered graduate degree. Florida International University requires 36 semester credits, completed through an independent study or thesis option.
Established in the mid-1960s as a research institution of higher education, Florida International University (Florida International) is a member school of the Florida’s university system and a space-grant school. The school is estimated to have a yearly economic impact on the state of more than $3.1 billion. Florida International University’s campus in University Park was once the Tamiami Airport that was used for general aviation activities.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
8. Pittsburgh State University
Pittsburgh State University offers a Master of Engineering Technology in Construction Management that requires students to complete 33 semester credits at the graduate level. PSU’s affordable online construction management masters degree program includes classes in value engineering, integrated design, systems engineering, collaborative projects, to name a few. Additionally, Pittsburgh State University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program requires degree candidates to select twelve hours from either research and development or the technical specialty curriculum.
Pittsburgh State University was founded in the early 1900s as a normal school for teachers. Pittsburgh State University now operates as a space-grant higher learning institution with a student enrollment of approximately 6,550 students. Pittsburgh State University is divided into four colleges/schools that offer academic degrees in education, technology, arts/sciences, and business – which is AACSB accredited.
Degree: MET in Construction Management
9. Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an MS in Construction Management & Technology that is among the marketplace’s most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs. Arizona State University’s affordable online construction management masters degree program requires students to complete ten classes for thirty graduate semester credits. Classes for ASU’s construction management graduate degree include trenchless construction methods, construction productivity, and facilities operations and maintenance, to name a few.
Arizona State University (ASU) is a space-grant and multiple-campus institution of higher education with a student enrollment of more than 146,000, making ASU among the largest public schools in the nation. Arizona State University is overseen by the state’s Board of Regents. The school offers more than 300 programs from its seventeen colleges/schools. Arizona State University’s faculty includes more than 4,600 academic scholars that include MacArthur Fellows and Pulitzer Prize winners, among others.
Degree: MS in Construction Management and Technology
10. Western Carolina University
The Engineering & Technology College at Western Carolina University offers a 30-credit MS in Construction Management (MCM), which is one of the most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs in North Carolina. Additionally, Best College Reviews recognizes WCU’s affordable online construction management masters degree program among the best in the nation. Classes for Western Carolina University’s graduate degree in construction management include construction estimating and scheduling, sustainability in construction, advanced construction fiancé, and construction operations and safety, to name a few.
Founded as Cullowhee Academy in the late 1880s, Western Carolina University now operates as a member of the state’s university system. More than 12,150 students attend classes online and on the school’s campus. Western Carolina University is recognized as the fifth oldest school within the University of NC system.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
11. University of Wisconsin Stout
The University of Wisconsin – Stout offers an MS in Construction Management degree program (MSCM) that is ranked among Best College Reviews top and most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs. Degree candidates enrolled in the University of Wisconsin must complete a minimum of thirty semester credits across ten classes. The classes for the University of Wisconsin’s affordable online construction management masters degree programs can be completed in two to three years, depending on the student’s time commitment.
The Stout campus at the University of Wisconsin was established in the early-1890s and named to honor a lumber magnate JH Stout. The University of Wisconsinis recognized as the state’s polytechnic school with a student enrollment that exceeds 8,150 students online and the school’s rural campus. The University of Wisconsin in Stout offers students more than 70 academic undergraduate and graduate degree programs delivered online, as hybrid programs, and on-campus.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
12. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers a MS in Engineering in Construction Management that is one of the most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs in Wisconsin. Classes for the University of Tennessee’s affordable online construction management masters degree program include sustainability and LEED building, strategic bidding & estimating, lean construction, and construction law, to name a few.
Established in 1886 as Chattanooga University, the University of Tennessee is the space-grant school and a member of the state’s university system with a student body that exceeds 11,050 students vying for degrees online and on the Chattanooga campus. The University of Tennessee opened a 180,000 square ft. library in 2015. The University of Tennessee is best known for its business degree programs that are nationally ranked, which are offered among the more than 135 undergraduate options.
Degree: MEng Construction Management
13. North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University offers a 31-credit MS in Construction Management degree program that is recognized as one of the most affordable online construction management masters degree programs in North Dakota. North Dakota State University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program includes classes in scheduling & project control, cost estimating, construction management, technology & equipment, and support operations, plus a master’s thesis, to name a few.
Founded in 1890, North Dakota State University (North Dakota) is recognized to be one of North Dakota’s largest higher learning institutions. North Dakota State University operates nearly 20,000 acres of extension academic extensions throughout the state. North Dakota State University is the state’s flagship and space-grant school that is also a member of North Dakota’s university system. North Dakota State University is recognized as the North Dakota’s land-grant school established under the Morrill Land Grant Act.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
14. University of Florida
The University of Florida’s Rinker Construction Management School offers a Master of International Construction Management (ICM) degree program that is ranked among Florida’s best and most affordable online construction management masters degree programs. Students enrolled in the University of Florida’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program complete classes in the principles of international sustainable construction, high-performance green building, construction ecology, value management, and cost control, to name a few.
Established in the mid-1850s, the University of Florida is now a senior member school in Florida’s state university system. The University of Florida is ranked among the top ten best public universities according to US News and is also a sea and space-grant institution of higher education with a student enrollment of approximately 56,450 students. The University of Florida’s student enrollment is the third largest in the Sunshine State.
Degree: Master of International Construction Management
15. Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University offers an MS in Construction Management that can be completed entirely online. Louisiana State University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program requires the completion of a minimum of 36 graduate semester credits. In addition, Louisiana State University’s affordable online construction management masters degree program has received ACCE accreditation – the American Council for Construction Education.
Louisiana State University was founded as a seminary and military training academy in the mid-1850s and now operates as a sea, space, and land-grant institution of higher education. More than 34,250 students attend classes online and the Baton Rouge, Louisiana vying for degrees offered by the university’s fourteen colleges/schools. Louisiana State University operates as the flagship campus of the Louisiana state system of universities.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
16. University of Houston
The University of Houston offers an MS in Construction Management that is available entirely online. UH’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program requires degree candidates to complete at least 31 semester units at the graduate level. The University of Houston’s affordable online construction management masters degree program includes coursework in project management principles, experimental design, cost analysis, decision making, and computer applications in construction management, among others.
The University of Houston was established in the late-1920s as a junior college but now operates as a research institution of higher learning with a student enrollment that exceeds 46,050 students. The University of Houston offers students nearly 300 academic degree and certificate programs through its fourteen colleges/schools. The University of Houston earned university status in 1933.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
17. University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a Master of Engineering in Construction Engineering Management concentration that is ranked among most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs. The University of Alabama’s affordable online construction management masters degree program can be completed in as little as nineteen months. The University of Alabama’s graduate degree in construction management is ranked among the best in the nation by several ranking services.
The University of Alabama (UA) was established in the early-1820s and is recognized as the state’s oldest institution of higher learning. The school is also the largest university in Alabama, with a student enrollment that exceeds 31,550 students. The University of Alabama operates the only law school in the state. The University of Alabama is nicknamed the Capstone and operates one of the nation’s most successful football programs that began in 1892.
Degree: MEng Construction Management
18. Clemson University
Clemson University’s Construction Science & Management Department offers a Master of Construction Management degree program that is available 100% online. Students enrolled in Clemson University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program have six years during which the degree plan must be completed. This affordable online construction management masters degree from Clemson University requires degree candidates to finish a minimum of 30 graduate semester credits to graduate.
Clemson University was founded under the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1889 and is a research school with a student body that nearly 26,000 students. Clemson University is organized into seven colleges/schools in the areas of forestry, agriculture, architecture, humanities, business, education, applied science, and engineering, among others. While Clemson University became a civilian coed school in 1955, but it still has an active military presence on-campus.
Degree: Master of Construction Management
19. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California’s Viterbi Engineering School offers an MS in Construction Management degree program that is recognized to be one of the most affordable online masters in construction management degree programs in the Golden State.
Full-time students enrolled in USC’s affordable online construction management masters degree complete the degree, on average, in 1eighteen to twenty-four months, with part-time construction management students completing the degree in 2.5 to 3 years.
Established in the early-1880s, the University of Southern California is now a comprehensive research university and one of the top schools across the country. This space and sea-grant school serves nearly 49,000 students. The University of Southern California holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of higher education in the state of California.
Degree: MS in Construction Management
20. Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University offers a Master of Construction Engineering Management (MCEM) degree program that can be completed entirely online over eighteen months.
Lawrence Technological University’s affordable online masters in construction management degree program requires students to complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester units to graduate. Core classes for this affordable online construction management masters degree from Lawrence Technological University includes construction accounting & finance, construction law, principles of design, and techniques of project planning & control, to name a few.
Lawrence Technological University (Lawrence Tech) was founded as a technology institute in the early 1930s. More than 4,050 students attend classes online and on the metro Detroit campus, vying for the more than 100 programs offered by Lawrence Technological University’s four colleges/schools. Lawrence Technological University’s famous alumni, includes John DeLorean, who founded the DeLorean Motor Corp after a career as a General Motors Executive.
Degree: Master of Construction Engineering Management
Why Should I Get My Master’s in Construction Management Online?
Earning a Master’s in Construction Management online is a great way to further your career if you plan on working in the construction field. Individuals who have started in the construction field at an entry-level position can begin to advance their careers by pursuing an online degree program.
Online programs offer a level of flexibility that traditional classroom degrees do not. Not only do they allow you to continue your education, online courses offer you an opportunity to explore new challenges while you are still in school. New challenges can encourage you to broaden your horizons and take additional courses that may benefit your career.
An online Master’s in Construction Management is a great way to complete your education so that you can continue to move upwards in the ranks of management. Attending class online allows the student to complete their courses while they are working.
With some construction jobs, employees are required to travel for their jobs. With an online degree program, traveling for work is possible because they can take their courses with them. Convenience and flexibility make online degree programs popular with individuals who are already working full-time.
How Do I Choose an Online Construction Management Master’s?
To choose the right online construction management Master’s degree program, you will need to know what options are available to you and where you would like your career to go. It’s important to look at several degree programs before you finally choose the one that best fits your individual needs.
Construction is a very diverse field, so you need to know in what direction you plan to go as you continue to pursue your education. If you are already employed in the construction field, explore what type of employment opportunities you may have in different areas.
For some, including an MBA with their online Construction Management Master’s is a great way to take your career in a new direction. A dual degree program not only gives you what you need for the construction aspect of your career, but the MBA also gives you the business skills you need to be an effective manager.
With an MBA, you can capitalize on your construction management Master’s and use both to build a solid career that will allow you to pursue management opportunities in the construction field. Dual degree programs can be completed online and will allow you to continue to pursue new opportunities in either field.
Is a Master’s in Construction Management Worth It?
Working in the field of construction can become a very lucrative career that will last for several years. Earning a Master’s in Construction Management will take your career to a new level. The management skills you receive will allow you to move up the ladder and take on more responsibilities.
You will learn about new technology and state of the art concepts that you can use to further your career. Taking courses online will allow you to accept new employment opportunities while you are still in school. The value you place on your education goes far beyond the money you pay for it. The real reward is the career you can build once you have graduated and found your niche.
As you continue to pursue your education online, opportunities for advancement will continue to appear. Working while attending school gives you a chance to explore areas where you could possibly take on more responsibilities. More responsibilities will also mean an increase in your earning potential.
Earning your degree online will allow you to continue to gain the experience you need to apply for management positions within the construction field. If your passion is construction, you can build a career you will be proud of by pursuing your degree online.
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Construction Management?
There are several things you can do with a Master’s in Construction Management. With this type of degree, you have the opportunity to manage not only teams of construction workers but entire construction companies as well.
Having the opportunity to manage large construction projects is both challenging and rewarding, especially when the job is completed and you can stand back and look at what you have helped build. With a Master’s in Construction Management degree, you can work on projects from start to finish.
Another avenue to consider is building your own construction company. Being self-employed as an independent contractor can be a very lucrative and productive career. Working for yourself means new opportunities that you choose to pursue.
You can choose the jobs you want to take on and you can enjoy the benefits of owning your own company. By working for yourself, you are the one that is in control of your future. With a Master’s in Construction Management, your future is up to you.
What are the Career Options for an Accelerated Online Master’s in Construction Management Degree?
- Construction Manager
- Construction Company Owner
- Construction Estimator
- Assistant Project Manager
- Vice President of Construction
- Vice President of Project Management
- Senior Claims Analyst
- Construction Superintendent
- Civil Engineer
- Building Inspector
- Designer
- Construction Contracts Manager
- Architect
- General Laborer
- Construction Foreman
How Much Can You Earn in This Field?
The current median salary for construction managers is $89,000. The salary range is from $53,000 for entry-level professionals to $158,000 for senior-level positions. Professionals in this field will find positions that run the gamut from entry-level to C-level positions. This range also accounts for positions that require additional certification or education as well as positions in the private and public sector, nonprofit positions, and more.
What are the Various Disciplines of Construction Management?
Construction management is generally a field that is found under the discipline of civil engineering. It is a field that is focused on the actual construction aspects of a building. It is also an incredibly diverse and complex field.
Students of construction management focus on a variety of disciplines in the field. This includes construction, finance, estimations, budgeting, contracts, the law, management, structure, architecture, and more. Specializations in one or more of these areas exist and will encourage professionals to focus on that cognate area. However, each sub-discipline is important in the overall scheme of the field.
Construction is a big part of how infrastructure works in this country. Without the fine men and women who dedicate their entire careers to this field, the country would be bereft of hospitals, schools, office buildings, and so much more. That’s why making sure that accelerated online Master’s in Construction Management degrees are available to professionals are so important in for the benefit of this country.
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