2023 Best Master’s Degree Programs in Project Management
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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in project management but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in project management programs.
What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
- Boston University, Boston, MA
The master of science in project management at Boston University is intended to provide learners with the tools and methods necessary to monitor every element of project management, including cost analysis, scheduling, resource allocation, and communications. The degree program benefits learners with a wide range of professional responsibilities and is perfect for people working in different contexts, including information technology, business, biotechnology, and consulting. Degree electives allow learners to pursue certificates in administrative sciences.
This degree program is offered at Boston University’s Metropolitan College, where learners have access to interactive learning experiences both on-campus and online. Learners at Boston University have access to a booming alumni community and distinguished, award-winning faculty. A unique feature of this degree program is the capacity for online graduate learners to partake in international study experiences. Learners can participate in classes abroad in locations such as England, France, Mexico, Germany, and Taipei.
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC
In Georgetown’s 30-credit degree program, students learn project management via case studies, networking, and project planning. This degree program, which can be finished full- or part-time, generally takes around two years to finish and can be started at any time during the year. This makes it perfect for working professionals.
The degree program emphasizes the technical knowledge and leadership skills for which employers are looking. Students learn how to examine and minimize costs and risks as well as how to plan, manage, and incorporate research. Required classes include ethics; project management fundamentals; project initiation and development; communication and collaboration for managers; project planning; and project execution and delivery.
Georgetown’s degree program in project management is one of 30 professional certificate, custom, and corporate training programs. These programs are contemporary and hands-on, challenging learners o embrace that which is out of the ordinary. As a result, Georgetown is a top-rated institution, repeatedly recognized as one of the Best Colleges by U.S. News and World Report.
- Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
This part-time degree program is designed for professionals who want to earn an adaptable degree at their own pace. Nationally rated and sanctioned, the degree program prepares learners by involving them in the landscape of international business. Learners will experience a rigorous curriculum taught by faculty who are scholars, innovators, and experienced leaders.
The degree program is built on five guiding principles, which promote qualities in learners such as structured/unstructured decision-making, leadership, ethical and social responsibility, extensive and inclusive thinking, and holistic comprehension of domestic and international business. Classes built upon these themes include introduction to the organization and its environment; project risk management; project management fundamentals; managing products and services; managing people; and managing project requirements and scope.
Lehigh is a premier private research institution, rating at the top of national research institutions each year. In fact, over 70 percent of Lehigh learners partake in community service by their senior year.
- George Washington University, Washington, DC
This unique degree program emphasizes the individual and qualitative as well as the technical aspects of managing projects. Coursework is highly immersive, involving learners in team-based projects to help introduce them to the integrated, interdisciplinary nature of multiple perspectives. This degree program requires about 18 months of full-time study, although some learners may elect to take classes part-time. Required classes consist of:
- Statistics for Managers
- Optimization Models for Decision Making
- Risk Analysis for Decision Making
- Cost Estimation and Control
- Direct Computation Project Management
- Project Management Finance
- Executive Decision Making
George Washington is situated in the heart of Washington, DC, just moments away from the White House, State Department, and World Bank. This prime location gives learners unique access to speakers, hands-on learning experiences, and internship opportunities. As a result, most learners obtain jobs in their fields before they even graduate.
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Northeastern’s graduate degree in project management offers a wide variety of entry terms that allow learners ultimate flexibility. The institution also has several comparable certificate programs for individuals who are not yet ready to pursue a master’s degree. This fledgling degree program, which started in 2009, trains learners in every aspect of project management, including planning, budgeting, and negotiations. Required classes consist of:
- Project Scheduling and Cost Planning
- Project Scope Management
- Project Quality Management
- Project Evaluation and Assessment
- Foundations of Project Management
- Project Risk Management
- Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Steven’s 30-credit degree program in enterprise project management focuses on strategy. Graduates are trained to work in an array of fields, such as software engineering and construction management. Learners may also utilize this degree program to satisfy professional licensure requirements. This interdisciplinary degree program exposes learners to project direction, budget management, and timeline creation. Required classes include strategic perspectives in project management, fundamentals of project management, project analytics, leader development, project management office, and leading across projects.
Learners may also select from one of three specialized concentrations: general management, software engineering, or construction management. This degree program is offered on campus as well as online. Online learners benefit from Stevens’ proximity to all kinds of industries, including finance, media, and accounting firms. Learners studying on campus benefit from guest lectures, speakers series, special events, hands-on projects, and networking sessions.
- University of Texas-Dallas, Dallas, TX
The University of Texas at Dallas has several levels in which learners can improve their experiences in project management. This unique degree program has an adaptable on-campus schedule for busy working professionals. Learners either attend classes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, or they can take an asynchronous online degree program. Classes include the following subjects:
- Project, Strategic and Process Management
- Project Initiation
- Project Planning
- Project Execution Planning
- Advanced Project Management and Simulation
- Introduction to Organizational Behavior
This degree program was designed in collaboration with local sector experts to help develop the expertise of their existing project managers. As a result, the degree program has a superior blend of technical and cultural skill development.
- University of Denver, Denver, CO
The project management program offered via the University of Denver is separated into 10-week terms. Only 12 classes are required for degree completion in this adaptable degree program. Learners graduate fully prepared to take the PMI Project Management Professional Certification Examination.
This highly customizable degree program enables learners to design custom plans that best suit their career goals and skills. Learners will take classes such as:
- Leadership Development
- Building The 21st Century Organization
- Principles of Financing for Organizations
- Principles of Project Management
- Project Contracts and Procurement
- Project Management Tools and Techniques
- Project Management Dynamics
In addition to these core classes, many learners also opt to take elective classes in areas such as leadership and organizations.
- Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Mississippi State University has a master of business administration with a minor in project management. This reasonably priced degree has been rated a Best Online MBA Program by U.S. News and World Report; it also rated as a top-rated degree program for veterans. The MSU also hosts a graduate minor in this field. Learners have access to nationally prominent faculty in a cohort-based degree program. This promotes constant interaction among faculty and learners. Learners also engage in experiential programs, such as professional development workshops (including the unique MBA+ chance) and consulting projects.
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, MN
This university formats its master of science in project management program so that learners are first introduced to a profound, foundational core comprehension of business practices and philosophies. Then, through skill-based projects and real-world examples, learners develop the skills necessary to lead. Learners work in a cohort-based model, allowing for maximum collaboration, and they can begin studies in the spring, summer, or fall.
Twenty-four core credits are required, along with an array of management and capstone classes. Required classes include:
- Fundamentals of Project Management
- Project Planning and Scheduling
- Technical Communication
- Project Leadership Team and Stakeholder Management
- Project Integration and Quality Management
- Project Risk Management
- Project Procurement and Cost Management
Because St. Mary’s is a private, nonprofit institution, learners are the priority when it comes to creating coursework and activities.
- Regis University, Denver, CO
The accelerated and pioneering master of science in project leadership and management at Regis is designed for learners who want to get a leg up on the ever-changing international marketplace. It is geared toward learners who are already working in some facet of the private sector and wish to invoke substantial change in their sector.
Requiring just 30 credit hours, this fast-moving degree program can be started in January, May, or August and finished online or on campus. Required classes include:
- Delivering Organization Excellence
- Leading Projects in Contemporary Organizations
- Management of Project Performance
- Project Monitoring and Delivery
- Leading Change and Innovation
- Strategic and Business Management: Project Managers
Tuition for this degree program starts at just $850 per credit hour with substantial financial aid and scholarships available. Regis not only enables learners to graduate more swiftly and affordably, but it also offers them with more desirable career outcomes upon graduation. Regis graduates earn a mean starting salary of $58,000, which is 50 percent higher than the national mean.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The master of science in program and project management degree program is rooted in business, economics, math, engineering, and physical sciences, making it a unique interdisciplinary degree program that blends subjects and concepts. Available on campus or online, this 30-credit hour degree program offers graduates the strong foundational knowledge to pursue licensure as a project management professional. Required classes include:
- Fundamentals of Project Management
- Project Management and Control
- Managing Global Programs
- Program Budget, Cost Estimation, and Control
- Engineering Risk-Benefit Analysis
- Organization Behavior
The degree program applies to an array of industries, including information technology, military, government, and many others.
- Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
At Fayetteville State, learners may pursue a master’s degree in business administration with a choice between a graduate certificate in project management or a concentration in project management. The degree program is the most reasonably priced in the University of North Carolina System and enables learners to take classes on campus or online. Online learners can even take classes from other campuses through UNC Online, offering them exclusive access to hundreds of exciting classes in the discipline.
This adaptable and diverse degree program is sanctioned by AACSB International, the top accreditation for business schools across the world. In addition to the certificate and concentration in project management, other areas of study within the MBA consist of healthcare management and cybersecurity management. Within project management, learners may pursue an array of core and elective classes, including fundamentals of marketing, project risk management, tools and techniques of project management, communication and procurement in project management, and financial management.
- University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
Situated in the heart of Alabama, this institution’s MBA in project management is for people who already have substantial business experience. This challenging and relevant degree program is taught by highly qualified faculty at various campus locations as well as online. It is adaptable and can be customized to meet individual career goals and schedules.
Learners may earn the Project Management Certified Associate in Project Management or take the Project Management Professional examination after graduation. The University of North Alabama has won numerous accolades for its peerless business programs. It is recognized both for affordability and rigorous academics.
- Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
This interdisciplinary applied degree program is designed for learners who already have a background in technology or applied and natural sciences. The coursework incorporates skills development to help build upon the Project Management Institute’s Body of Knowledge. Learners may pursue on-campus or online learning opportunities to get expertise in the competitive international market.
Learners will take approximately 36 credit hours or 33 credit hours with the addition of a final thesis. Core coursework includes:
- Project Management
- Project Leadership
- Project Control Systems
- Cost Analysis for Project Management
- Management of Innovation and Technology
- Advanced Project Management
Learners will also finish a holistic graduate-level research project to satisfy course requirements. An accelerated degree program is also available. This degree program enables undergraduate learners to finish a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less than five years. Learners at Missouri State have plenty of course options. Ninety percent of the institution’s faculty holds terminal degrees, making this college a smart choice for a master’s degree in project management.