Compiled and Written By TopManagementDegrees.com Staff
Last Updated: May 5, 2020
Those who graduate with an online project management degree at the bachelor level go on to work jobs as property managers, project managers, and construction project managers, among other possible positions. According to Payscale, the average annual salary of someone with a bachelor's degree in project management is $50,000. These individuals serve as the lead organizers and planners for complex projects. They develop plans for success task completion, lead both small and large teams, set standards and expectations, and decide if and when a given project meets those standards and expectations. Individuals who like to lead and who like a lot of responsibility should consider a degree in this field. Furthermore, students unsure of whether they have the time needed to complete a bachelor's degree should consider the advantages of earning their education from a distance. Distance learning allows them to tend to their education without having to sacrifice either time away from their families or time away from their current jobs.
Recommended Project Management Programs
Note: A detailed explanation of the methodology we used to determine the best online Bachelor's in Project Management programs can be found at the end of the ranking.
#1 Colorado State University Global School of Management and Innovation – Aurora, Colorado
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 100.00
#2 Colorado Technical University Virtual Campus – Colorado Springs, Colorado
TMD Ranking Score: 77.06
#3 Bellevue University College of Science and Technology – Bellevue, Nebraska
To earn an online project management degree from Bellevue University's College of Science and Technology, students must complete general education requirements, electives, and major requirements. Courses in the project management major include project risk management, business communications, foundations for professional success, and fundamentals of project management. The degree holds programmatic accreditation from the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs. Students hoping to apply must already possess either 60 semester credit hours or an associate degree; they also need to submit their GED certificate or highschool diploma and the online application form.
Affordability Score: Very Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 73.42
#4 Marist College School of Professional Programs – Poughkeepsie, New York
Marist College's School of Professional Programs centers its studies around topics such as economics of social issues, project management, legal issues in organization, and introduction to human resources. The project management class focuses on a holistic perspective of projects, from start to finish. The school offers a number of scholarships, including the Marist Scholarships and other privately funded scholarships. Financial aid also comes in the form of grants and student loans. Students may elect to take either the 15 or the eight-week format, depending on their preferences and needs. Those in the online program may select as many as three different concentrations, including in organization communication, IT management, or management studies.
Affordability Score: Very Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 70.65
#5 Linfield College Online and Continuing Education Department – McMinnville, Oregon
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Linfield College's online project management degree caters to students interested in careers as leaders. Some of the courses listed include project management II: management skills, assessment, and development; intercultural communication: global perspective; management information systems; and contemporary business. The Linfield College Scholarship goes to a student or students enrolled in an online program who possess a history of academic success. To apply, students must provide information regarding their academic and work history, as well as information regarding their interest in the program and their financial need status.
Affordability Score: Very Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 66.55
#6 Capella University School of Business and Technology – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Capella University provides incoming students with an online project management degree that offers the flexibility that many students require. Learners take between eight and 15 total general education courses and at least 10 courses in the project management major. They also take eight specialization courses, between 7 and 12 elective courses, and finish the program with a capstone project. Courses in the specialization include integration and scope management, human resources and motivation management, risk management in project management, and agile project management. The degree boasts programmatic accreditation from the global accreditation center for project management education programs.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 60.75
#7 Columbia Basin College Business, Computer Science & Library Division – Pasco, Washington
Accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs, Columbia Basin's online project management degree, affords its graduates with the skills needed to succeed in their careers. Students take a variety of courses, including project HR management and communication skills, project quality management, introduction to primavera, and advanced Microsoft project. To graduate, students must also complete a project management capstone course. Students invited into the program enjoy the ability to begin studying at the beginning of any quarter; they also enjoy the fact that an online program enables them to fulfill their family and work obligations while earning a degree.
Affordability Score: Very Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 59.63
#8 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide College of Business – Daytona Beach, Florida
Embry-Riddle's 120-credit online project management degree establishes professional ready for their careers through studies dedicated to clarifying the project manager's role in the development and completion of tasks. Graduates possess a good sense of how to balance employee happiness with stakeholder happiness. The school offers the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship to those with a military background; military students can also exchange their experience for credit. Other financial aid options include state and federal grants, scholarships provided by private groups, and both federal and private loans. The school boasts accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 58.20
#9 Wentworth Institute of Technology College of Professional & Continuing Education – Boston, Massachusetts
The online project management degree available at Wentworth Institute of Technology prepares graduates to successfully lead on projects through coursework in project planning, scheduling, and control; principles of marketing; management communications, and managing and leading organizations. A class in project evaluation and performance examines the methods used in evaluating whether a project succeeded, met most or some of the requirements, or simply failed. Admission to the program requires the submission of a GED or high school diploma, the completion of the application form, and both a current resume and transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate institutions.
Affordability Score: Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 57.56
#10 National University School of Business and Management – La Jolla, California
National University's School of Business and Management provides its students the option of an online project management degree concentration. Upper-division classes include international financial management, legal aspects of business, international experience, and introduction to advertising. The project management concentration includes courses such as project planning and control and project accounting fundamentals. To graduate, students must complete 180 quarter units, of which at least 45 must occur either online or on-campus at National University. The concentration in project management constitutes 27 total quarter units. To apply, students must fill out the online application form and submit all materials before the deadline.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 54.47
#11 Saint Leo University Donald R. Tapia School of Business – Saint Leo, Florida
To complete an online project management degree from Saint Leo University, students in the program take courses dedicated to studies in project risk management, project management implementation, project teamwork and leadership, and contracts and procurement. In order to foster professional development, the school makes a variety of opportunities available, including conferences designed to promote networking, access to professional memberships where students can review job boards and the latest research, and internship opportunities for students to practice what they learn in the classroom in a real-world context. To gain admission to the program, students need to submit proof of their high school graduation.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 53.73
#12 City University of Seattle School of Management – Seattle, Washington
Earning an online project management degree from City University' Seattle School of Management ensures that graduates enjoy both additional job opportunities and job stability. Courses in the upper-division project management core include the effective organization, agile/scrum methodologies, project performance and quality assurance, and project resource and procurement management. In a leadership and teams course, students examine the methods used by leaders to ensure that a job gets done safely and effectively. Prospective students should provide a completed online application. International students need to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language, and military students enjoy lowered tuition rates.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 53.45
#13 University of the Incarnate Word School of Professional Studies – San Antonio, Texas
University of the Incarnate Word's School of Professional Studies offers an online project management degree through a concentration in project management in its bachelor of science in business administration program. Students must complete 46 hours of major requirements, as well as 21 hours in the project management concentration. Classes that focus on the concentration include theories and concepts of personnel management, project management methods, organizational behavior, and project leadership. Graduates go on to work in businesses; at nonprofit institutions; and at local, state, and federal agencies. Still others with an entrepreneurial mindset graduate from the program ready to start their own businesses.
Affordability Score: Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 53.42
#14 American Intercontinental University Online Campus – Schaumburg, Illinois
To receive an online project management degree from American Intercontinental University, distance learners will need to study topics such as quantitative methods and analysis, management and leadership organizations, managerial accounting, and survey of human resource management. Students must also complete a capstone project prior to graduating, resulting in a total of 180 total credit hours. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) offers programmatic accreditation status to this degree. Students may transfer in as much as 75% of their credits — including general curriculum — and students with a military background receive financial aid through reductions in their tuition costs.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 53.40
#15 George Fox University Department of Professional Studies – Newberg, Oregon
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, George Fox University's online project management program offers part-time, online learning to its students. The program takes about 16 months to complete for most students and requires a total of 126 credit hours for completion. The project management core consists of 21 total credit hours in classes that study topics such as waterfall project management methodologies, project risk management, introduction to project management, and agile project management methodologies. Prospective students must complete their full application with all materials by the beginning of March, July, or November (depending on when they hope to attend) — with decisions coming a month or so after.
Affordability Score: Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 53.24
#16 Brandman University School of Extended Education – Irvine, California
Brandman University's School of Extended Education offers an online project management degree through its computing technology bachelor's program. Students interested in program entrance need to be in possession of at least 12 college credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA and submit an online application and transcripts. Those hailing from the military might be able to receive credit for their experience. The program lists four classes in the project management concentration: organizational development and change, project management for information systems, project risk management, and project work structure and resources management. The program consists of a total of 120 credit hours.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 52.25
#17 Saint Louis University School for Professional Studies – Saint Louis, Missouri
A online project management degree at Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies requires students to take a variety of courses in the major. Topics covered include communication-stakeholder and quality management, project management leadership ethics, contract supplier administration, project selection and scope. Students also need to take and complete a capstone project. Graduates go on to work in multiple different fields; for example, they might work in manufacturing, technology, sales management, or real estate. Those interested in applying should possess at least a 2.5 GPA if they want to bring in transfer credits. Additional requirements include a high school diploma (or equivalent) and at least three years of work experience.
Affordability Score: Very Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 51.73
#18 Charleston Southern University College of Adult and Professional Studies – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Southern University established its online project management degree to ready students for their careers in leadership. Distance learners must complete 47 hours in a liberal arts core, including language requirements, and 51 hours in a project management core. Topics covered in the major include student success and Christian worldview in online learning, project planning and implementation, project estimation and cost management, and managing project quality and change. The program constitutes a total of 125 total credits. Distance learners enjoy the flexibility that the online learning platform provides them, as they can schedule classes around life's obligations.
Affordability Score: Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 51.64
#19 Liberty University School of Business – Lynchburg, Virginia
As an online project management degree-granting institution, Liberty University gives students the chance to advance their careers through eight-week, distance-learning courses. Transfer students can bring in as many as 75% of their courses from other institutions to meet the 120-credit hour requirement. Most students take about three and a half years to finish the program, and the project management degree holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Military students can receive credit for their training and experience; they also receive tuition discounts. Coursework includes intermediate business computer apps, foundations of project management, and leading global projects.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 51.17
#20 Minnesota State University Moorhead College of Business & Innovation – Moorhead, Minnesota
Those hoping to work as project leads, should consider Minnesota State University's online project management degree, which holds PMI certification. Graduates of the program earn an average starting salary of $62,000 and go on to work as project analysts, project managers, software managers, and nonprofit managers. Courses in the major include project management in business, principles of marketing; computer applications for technologists; and advanced project management, risk, and liability. The online program caters to those who prefer distance learning due to the flexibility it offers them in scheduling time for their families and jobs.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 48.83
#21 Davenport University College of Technology – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Davenport University's College of Technology provides prospective students with an online project management degree with an emphasis in technology project management. Students can specialize in one of six concentrations: accounting information systems, professionally focused technical, computer information systems, networking, health information management, and information security. Students must take general education courses in addition to major courses. Courses in the program related to project management include project scheduling with Agile, global sourcing for projects, project financial/risk analysis, and global sourcing for projects. Students in the program also need to complete a technology capstone experience prior to graduating.
Affordability Score: Average
TMD Ranking Score: 48.70
#22 Regis University College of Business & Economics – Denver, Colorado
The College of Business and Economics at Regis University delivers an online project management degree to students interested in careers in international business, local and federal government , and the nonprofit sector. The 120-credit program consists of 45 hours of general undergraduate education, between 33 and 34 hours of lower-division requirements, 27 hours of upper-division requirements, and 9, 12, and 6-15 credits in the project management specialization, minor, and elective options, respectively. Examples of courses include professional business communication, principles of microeconomics, introduction to statistics, and legal environment of business. Incoming students must possess at least a high school diploma.
Affordability Score: Expensive
TMD Ranking Score: 45.30
#23 Baker College College of Information Technology – Flint, Michigan
The College of Information Technology at Baker Colleges administers its online project management degree to distance learners interested in the flexibility of an online program. Students take classes in the major in topics such as computer operating systems and maintenance I and II, special topics in information systems, senior project in information systems, and project management. The program requires at least 120 credit hours for completing, with 75 constituting the major. The school boasts accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission; accreditation lets students know that both the program and the school pass rigorous standards that ensure graduate readiness for the workplace.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 41.29
#24 University of Arizona Global Campus Forbes School of Business & Technology – San Diego, California
With scholarships available to distance learners in the online project management degree at UAGC's Forbes School of Business and Technology, students can expect to enjoy a learning option that is both flexible and affordable. Incoming transfer students can transfer in as many as 90 credits from other institutions. They take five-week courses in topics such as management for organizations, organizational change, leadership for organizations, and introduction to project management. The International Accreditation Council for Business Education, or IACBE, awards this program accreditation status. Students must complete a total of 120 credits to graduate: 43 in general education, 35 in electives, and 45 in major coursework.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 39.77
#25 University of Phoenix School of Business
The University of Phoenix's School of Business offers an online project management degree through a certificate program in the bachelor of science in business. The program is dedicated to cultivating graduates capable of addressing problems with a creative mindset, who possess the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, and who can manage a project from beginning to end with consistency. Learners must complete the general education requirement through classes in science and technology and the humanities in addition to courses dedicated to the certificate in project management. Online learners have the advantage of scheduling their coursework around their lives, enabling them to complete a degree conveniently.
Affordability Score: Affordable
TMD Ranking Score: 39.67
For more information on project management, check out our Project Management Resource Guide and our Online Master's in Project Management Ranking.
Also, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about project management:
How do I become a project manager?
What can I do with a Bachelor's in Project Management?
What will I learn in a project management program?
What can I do with a degree in project management?
Should I get a degree or certificate in project management?
What is project management?
Methodology
This ranking is designed to find the best online Bachelor's in Project Management degrees available. A list of over 45 schools was obtained and evaluated first on their project management focus and distance format, and then evaluated by the following factors: Accreditation, Project Management Education, Affordability, and Prestige.
Accreditation (20%): Institutional and business accreditations certifies that a program has reached the highest education standards, attesting to its value and increasing its brand recognition. Each bachelor's program in this list is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the US Department of Education. Additionally, each program was evaluated by whether it holds a third-party business accreditation from one of the top business school accrediting institutions: IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. This accreditation ensures that the top business and management curriculum standards are upheld. AACSB is widely regarded across the gold-star standard in business accreditation, thus the schools that hold this accreditation are given the highest scores.
Project Management Education (20%): Each program was ranked on whether it holds an accreditation from the Project Management Institute's Global Accreditation Center (GAC). "The GAC is the world's leading specialized accrediting body for project management and related degree programs…offered within accredited institutions of higher education worldwide." This accreditation ensures students that this program has reached the highest level of project management specific education.
Affordability (20%): Each bachelor's program was evaluated on the estimated tuition and fees for the academic year, reported by each institution to the National Center for Education Statistics. Tuition costs directly affect accessibility and return on investment, thus it is an important criterion for each student to evaluate when researching programs across the nation. Based on this average yearly tuition data, each program was then given an Affordability Score:
Very Expensive = $35,000+
Expensive = $23,000-$34,999
Average = $13,000-$22,999
Affordable = $8,000-$12,999
Very Affordable = $0-$7,999
Regional College Prestige (20%): This criterion was collected from one of the most prestigious sources in educational rankings, the Princeton Review. Each program was ranked on if they were included in one of the Princeton Review's 2018 Best Regional Colleges Rankings.
Online Business Prestige (20%): This criterion was collected from one of the most prestigious sources in educational rankings, US News and World Report. Each program was ranked based on their score within the US News and World Report's Best Online Bachelor's Program Ranking.
All of the criteria was collected, weighted equally, averaged, and then calculated on a 100-point scale. This score is the TMD Ranking Score, which provides the ranking order for this list. By evaluating the accreditation, project management education, affordability, and prestige, this ranking helps prospective students find the highest quality online Bachelor's in Project Management Programs.