By OCR Staff
April 2019
Labor experts predict that as many as 1.5 million new project management positions will need to be filled every year for the next several years. Businesses the world over depend upon experienced project managers. Project management know-how can be applied in practically every industry and enterprise, from government contracting to defense contracting, from financial services to media arts and design, and from IT/software development to engineering. When a project manager has overseen the job well, all parts of a project come together smoothly, on time, and within the budget.
Some typical project management responsibilities include the following: leading and managing projects in all the job phases; managing risks; assessing the variables of product quality data; identifying and overseeing the effect of change on a project; utilizing widely respected parameters to evaluate business practices, policies, and trends; and communicating and dealing with project stakeholders.
If project management is in your employment history–and you have a yen to be on the cutting edge of tomorrow–then you are ready to earn your advanced degree in the field. As a project manager with a master’s degree, your ability to multitask, to think analytically, and to communicate with team members will guarantee your success in this exciting career. The work is financially rewarding, also. Yearly salaries for project managers usually start around $45,000 and can go up to $125,000.
If it would be difficult, however, for you to leave behind your day-to-day obligations in order to pursue an advanced degree in a traditional college or university, then an online education could be the answer. Online schools offer the same coursework, the same professors, and the exact same diploma. In addition, you would be able to work at your own pace, still fulfilling the responsibilities of your life.
Our list of the ten best online MPA schools have been ranked according to the rubrics below.
Accreditation by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) – 5 points
US News & World Report Graduate Online Business Ranking:
- Top 15 – 5 points
- Top 50 – 4 points
- Top 75 – 3 points
- Top 100 – 2 points
- Top 150 – 1 point
Payscale.com ROI Ranking:
- Top 150 – 5 points
- Top 300 – 4 points
- Top 500 – 3 points
- Top 700 – 4 points
- Top 900 – 1 point
Graduation Rate:
- 81-100% – 5 points
- 61 – 80% – 4 points
- 41 – 60% – 3 points
- 21 – 40% – 2 points
- 1 – 20% – 1 point
#1 – Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, Pennsylvania
Master of Project Management Online
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – #8 (tie)
Payscale.com Ranking: 184th
Graduation Rate: 86%
Points: 22
Website
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus offers an online master of project management degree with five areas of career-track coursework, allowing you to tailor your degree to your interests. These include enterprise architecture, enterprise resource planning, and supply chain management. The 30 credit hour program charges $975 for each credit hour if you take fewer than 12 credits. Admission requires transcripts, GRE/GMAT scores (which may be waived with evidence of at least five years of project management experience), two references, a statement of purpose, and a $65 application fee. Pennsylvania State University’s online master of project management is accredited by AACSB.
#2 – Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
Online Master of Science in Project Management
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – #11
Payscale.com Ranking: 213th
Graduation Rate: 85%
Points: 20
Website
Boston University’s Metropolitan College has an online Master of Science in Project Management degree that is a 40 credit hour program, consisting of ten required courses. If you have already earned Boston University’s Graduate Certificate of Project Management, your credits may transfer directly to the school’s MS in PM. You may then complete four core courses and two others. Coursework includes quantitative and qualitative decision making. The admission process is entirely online, but admission counselors are on hand to answer questions. Cost for each credit hour is $1,651. The school’s master of science in project management online degree is accredited by AACSB.
#3 – George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
Online Master of Science in Project Management
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – #45
Payscale.com Ranking: 153rd
Graduation Rate: 79%
Points: 18
Website
George Washington University has an online master of science in project management degree that was initiated in 1996 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The 36 credit hour program includes coursework such as statistics for managers, organizational models for decision making, and cost estimation and control. The cost per credit hour is $1,710. Admission to George Washington University’s online master of science in project management calls for transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, two letters of recommendation, a statement of career objectives, and a $75 application fee. AACSB awards accreditation to the school.
#4 – University of Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas
Online Master of Science in Project Management
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 289th
Graduation Rate: 60%
Points: 16
Website
The University of Kansas boasts a 100% online, asynchronous master of science project management degree. The 33 credit hour program consists of four fundamental courses, four core courses, two electives (selected from 12), and a capstone project. Curriculum includes writing and speaking for project managers, management of global projects, and management of new product development projects. To apply, submit transcripts, GRE scores (may be waived with more than two years of qualified, professional work experience), resume, and fee of $65. The master of science project management degree costs $575 for each credit hour. The University of Kansas is accredited by the AACSB.
#5 – Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
Online Master of Science in Project and Program Development
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 246th
Graduation Rate: 90.9%
Points:16
Website
Brandeis University offers a 30 credit hour, online master of science degree in project and program development. The following courses are included: project scheduling and management; the human side of project management; and demystifying agile project management. Cost per credit hour is $1,179. The admission process for the 100% online MS in project and program development requires official transcripts, resume, statement of professional goals, letter of recommendation, and a $75 application fee. Students may take up to two courses before enrolling in the degree program. Brandeis University is accredited by AACSB.
#6 – Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Masters in Project Management Online
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 134th
Graduation Rate: 67%
Points: 16
Website
Drexel University offers a 45 credit hour, 100% online master’s degree in project management that is aligned with the internationally recognized Project Management Institute’s Body of Knowledge guide (PMBOK). Coursework is offered in four 10-week quarters per academic year, culminating in a Capstone Project in Project Management. Admission calls for transcripts with a minimum 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, personal statement (see the guide online), resume, and no application fee. The charge for each credit hour is $1,265. Drexel University’s master’s degree in project management is accredited by AACSB.
#7 – Colorado State University Global
aurora, Colorado
Online Masters in Project Management
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – #59 (tie)
Payscale.com Ranking: 317th
Graduation Rate: 65.2%
Points: 15
Website
Colorado State University Global’s 36 credit hour master’s degree in project management is a 100% online program. If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, you will need to take RES501. Other courses include contracts, procurements, and risk management, as well as project metrics, monitoring, and control. The cost per credit hour is $500. The application process calls for transcripts with a 3.0 minimum GPA, statement of purpose, professional resume, and a fee of $25. CSU Global receives accreditation from GAC and regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission for the master’s degree in project management.
#8 – Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Master of Science in Administration with specialization in Project Management Online
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 809th
Graduation Rate: 56%
Points: 14
Central Michigan University has an online master of science degree in administration with specialization in project management that is a 36 credit hour program. To apply, submit transcripts, applicable entrance examination scores, letters of recommendation, and a fee of $45. The charge for each online, graduate credit hour is $596. Among the courses offered in Central Michigan University’s MS in administration with specialization in project management are these: administration, globalization, and multiculturalism; people and project management; and project management in complex organizations. The program is accredited by AACSB.
#9 – Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, Florida
Master of Science in Project Management Online
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 123rd
Graduation Rate: 55%
Points: 12
Website
Florida Institute of Technology offers an online master of science in project management degree that is a 33 credit hour program. Concentration options consist of five study areas, and electives include telecommunications systems management and computer systems administration. The cost for each credit hour is $777. The admissions process calls for certified transcripts, resume, recommendations, statement of objectives, GRE/GMAT scores, and a $50 application fee. According to the school website, the capstone project for FIT’s MS in project management is “a complex, real-life project management challenge in a team-based environment.”
#10 – University of Wisconsin – Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Master of Science in Project Management Online
US News Graduate Online Business Ranking – Not ranked
Payscale.com Ranking: 177th
Graduation Rate: 52%
Points: 11
The University of Wisconsin – Platteville offers an online master of science degree in project management. The 30-36 credit hour program has three optional areas of interest: human capital administration; integrated supply chain management; and managing engineering projects. Coursework includes project scope management, project management techniques, and organizational behavior. To apply, submit transcripts showing a minimum GPA of 2.75 (with at least 2.90 on the final 60 undergraduate hours), employment resume, and a $56 application fee but no GRE/GMAT scores. The charge per credit hour for the University of Wisconsin – Platteville’s MS in Project Management degree is $695.
Related: