The top master's degrees in project management provide students with the skills and expertise to organize and lead complex projects. Degree-seekers learn to strategize, manage project scope and performance, and minimize risk. Equipped with this training, graduates can pursue many lucrative and in-demand management occupations.
The growth of new organizations and complex management and analytical tools has created a need for leaders with updated skills and credentials. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the addition of 906,800 new management jobs between 2020 and 2030, including positions in facilities, marketing, and financial management.
Here, we rank the top online project manager's master's programs to give prospective learners a head start in their search.
College | Program stats | How much? |
George Washington University Washington, D.C. |
| Avg. annual net price: $33,719 Application fee: $80 |
Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX |
| Avg. annual net price: $14,617 Application fee: $50 |
University of Wisconsin Platteville Platteville, WI |
| Avg. annual net price: $15,718 Application fee: $56 |
The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN |
| Avg. annual net price: $24,066 Application fee:Free |
Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX |
| Avg. annual net price: $26,387 Application fee: $25 |
The following ranking leverages data from the most up-to-date publicly available information. ZDNet's ranking methodology includes carefully curated information, national datasets, and a proprietary algorithm.
Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
About the program:GW's 36-credit online project management master's program provides training in statistics for managers, risk management, and planning and scheduling.
About the program:SHSU's 36-credit online project management master's program includes courses in project management tools, leading organizational changes, and operations planning and control.
About the program:UW-Platteville's online project management master's program offers concentration options in human capital administration, integrated supply chain management, and managing engineering projects.
About the program:CSS' 37-credit online project management master's program features basic and advanced project management skills training, along with courses in global and strategic specializations.
About the program:DBU's 36-credit faith-based online MBA program features a project management concentration. This emphasis offers courses in mitigating project risk, project approaches and strategies, and organizing projects.
About the program:ELC's 30-semester hour online project management master's program features training in financial management, corporate communications, and Agile project management.
About the program:Brandeis' 30-credit online project management master's program teaches students about Agile project management and the human side of project leadership. Learners can also focus in areas like procurement and project management or program management theory and practice.
About the program:Drexel's 45-credit online project management master's program covers topics in international project management, project teamwork, and project estimation and cost management.
About the program:St. Mary's 36-credit online project management master's program requires courses in project scope and scheduling, procurement management, and project cost and performance management.
About the program:Florida Tech's 33-credit online project management master's program features required courses in organizational behavior, strategic project management, and cost and economic analysis.
About the program:Embry-Riddle's 30-credit online project management master's program provides training in directing and controlling projects, contemporary project management, and assessing and managing project risk.
About the program:CSU-Global's 36-credit online project management master's program features advanced training in decision sciences, financial metrics, risk management, and project control and monitoring.
About the program:CU's faith-based 38-credit online MBA features a project management concentration. This track includes courses in communications and risk management, along with cost, quality, and team management.
About the program:GSC's 30-credit online project management master's program includes courses in project chartering and planning, delivering business value, and managing project portfolios.
About the program:Saint Leo's online MBA offers a 33- to 36-credit project management concentration. In this track, degree-seekers complete courses in project process groups, best practices, and strategic management.
About the program:BU's 36-credit online project management master's program includes training in project communications management, project management in global and virtual workspaces, and schedule management.
About the program:CSU's 30-credit online project management master's program offers courses in managerial innovation strategies, talent management, and managing diverse cultures.
About the program:WBU's faith-based 48-credit online MBA features a project management specialization. This master's program provides courses in managing complex projects and project management information systems, along with power and politics in organizations.
About the program:Brenau's online MBA features a specialization in project management. This concentration includes courses in project management technologies, leadership of project teams, and strategic issues in project management.
About the program:GGU's 30-credit online project management master's program offers advanced courses in project governance, Agile management, and project risk management.
Similar to online MBA programs, online project management master's programs focus on building well-rounded leaders who have a grasp on several different management roles. These programs tend to differ, however, in that project management features more practical training in specific management duties, such as scheduling, costing, and staffing.
At the master's level, project management training combines research, group discussions, and presentations. Programs may conclude with a thesis, a capstone project, or an extensive group project.
The type of study available depends on the program format, but online learners may need to attend live virtual classrooms or study independently. The latter requires self-motivation and ambition.
Project management master's programs may come as an MBA concentration or they may offer their own specialization options, such as project management technologies and leadership.
At the graduate level, project management combines advanced business management training with behavioral sciences. Through coursework, reading, and projects, students learn how to manage people, expectations, and decisions. They also fine tune their communication, leadership, and analytical skills.
The courses offered in a project management master's degree differ between programs, schools, and students. Most programs emphasize similar core courses, such as those listed below.
In this course, students learn to develop effective strategies based on an organization's goals and principles. The training covers different methods for organizational and environmental analysis, along with planning techniques and models to improve the execution and implementation.
This course teaches students how to use different techniques and technologies for developing a project schedule. Learners look at how to assign resources efficiently and how budgets and staffing can influence schedules.
Students in this course learn to create accurate project budgets. The training explores methods for estimating and controlling costs, assigning resources and personnel, and presenting budgets to management.
In this course, students learn how to define and manage the various components of a project. They examine methods for assessing risk and performances, along with ways to make improvements and adjustments on the go.
A project management master's provides students with widely applicable skills for many leadership positions and organizations. The management field features strong projected growth and median annual wages of$109,760, as per the BLS. Prospective learners can take advantage of this by pursuing one of the programs listed in these rankings.
Haven't earned an undergraduate degree yet? Consider researching bachelor's in project management degrees.