Be part of designing the future of our growing world. Earn one of the Best Online Master’s Degrees in Construction Management.
As society grows and advances, the demand for revolutionary, sustainable construction and design increases. The construction industry needs better structures, cutting-edge technology, and sustainable materials and practices to propel us forward in a rapidly growing and developing world.
Ready to tackle construction operations? Interested in an online degree? Excited to be the proud graduate of a master’s program? Read on!
From design to execution, many players are involved in the construction process. High-quality, informed oversight is key to the success of an entire project. Leading the way in this pioneering technical work are Construction Managers.
What is an Online Master’s in Construction Management Degree?
Managing a construction project requires more than just familiarity with a hammer and nails. It’s not just about engineering and construction principles, either. As with project management in any field, problem-solving, appropriate decision making, and leadership skills are all essential to the success of a construction manager.
A Construction Manager must not only possess sharp technical skills and knowledge, but be equipped to manage and inspire teams of people on the ground. Their expertise in understanding and overseeing an entire project from start to finish, with attention to detail and technique, is essential to the building process. An Online Master’s degree in Construction Management provides both the technical and managerial skills required to lead a major construction team.
In an online master of science level program, students can expect to learn about a wide variety of subjects, including construction law, risk management, LEED building certification, cost control, and construction methods.
Success in your career can take many different forms, particularly depending upon which career track you pursue. For example, if you’re interested in real estate development, then a high-level understanding of risk analysis would probably be crucial. If project management is closer to your area of interest, then coursework in project planning, management skills, and human resources might be at the top of your list.
Prospective students should be sure to check out whether their program is a thesis or non-thesis master’s. Or, rather than a thesis, you might have a capstone project that you complete at the end of your course of study.
How much can you earn with an Online Master’s in Construction Management Degree?
As it prepares professionals for upper management-level careers, the earning potential for those with a Master’s degree in Construction Management is high. Construction Management jobs are predicted to increase in demand by 11 percent by 2026, and the median salary is around $89,300, according to studies from U.S. News and World Report.
Professionals with a Master’s in Construction Management are suited for a wide range of positions within the industry, such as designer, civil engineer, project manager, or foreman. You’ll be equipped with skills ranging from cost estimating, building information modeling, to quality control. And due to the extensive possibilities for career direction, the earning potential for MS in Construction Management degree holders ranges from $47,391 – $126,739, according to Payscale.
Honing in on this number a bit more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual wage of a construction manager at $93,370.
Don’t just look at potential earnings from your future job at a successful construction company, however. You need to make sure that you can afford the education. Be sure to investigate tuition rates and financial aid options that are available for graduate programs at your school of choice. We also recommend checking out the American Council for Construction Education website – they host lots of helpful resources for someone considering enrolling in a college of engineering.
What is required for an Online Master’s in Construction Management Degree?
A master’s-level construction management program generally requires a degree application, a resume, references from a professional contact, and an application fee. Many programs also require a statement of purpose as part of the application.
Most online Construction Management Master’s degree programs look for some educational background in either construction, engineering, or a directly related field. In some cases, students lacking prerequisites are able to make them up prior to beginning the formal course of study. Like most master of science programs, you should already have a bachelor’s degree (whether your undergraduate degree must be in a related field depends on the school – so if your degree is in something else, check with the school before applying). If you want a general degree that can fit into an management track, construction or otherwise, consider an online Master’s in Business Administration.
Completion of an online Master’s in Construction Management generally requires between 30 and 46 total credit hours. Some programs offer coursework that follows a very specific track focused on a particular facet of the industry, some provide optional concentrations, and many allow you to mix elective courses in with your core courses so you can customize your degree.
What are the Best Online Master’s in Construction Management Degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
