By earning a master’s in project management online, you are showing employers that you are ready to handle top leadership challenges in the field. Whether you are pursuing careers in construction, software development, business administration or arts and entertainment, project managers are needed in just about every industry that launches products or services to the public. Many aforementioned jobs have an above average rate of growth projected through 2030, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And a mid-level project manager today can make a median salary of over $86,000 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. Top earners in the field can earn over $100,000.
A graduate with a master’s in project management online has one of the highest average salaries in business. The downside? Tuition for a project management degree can cost as much as $85,000! GetEducated’s rankings reveal all of the programs that cost less than the national average so that you, the consumer, can make the most informed decision.
GetEducated compared 43 master’s in project management from 41 regionally accredited online schools to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our rankings reveal the most affordable options in the United States—26 master’s in project management online for under $27,700.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$27,700
Least Expensive: Amberton University ~$8,780
Most Expensive: New York University ~$84,944
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online master’s in project management programs. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Master’s in Project Management Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amberton University | (TX) | $8,780.00 | All Students |
2 | University of the Cumberlands | (KY) | $10,165.00 | All Students |
3 | Missouri State University | (MO) | $11,790.00 | All Students |
4 | Western Carolina University | (NC) | $12,408.12 $35,022.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Morgan State University | (MD) | $16,095.00 $29,265.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire) Master of Science in Project Management PMI-GAC,14 | (NH) | $16,480.00 $18,040.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Colorado State University-Global Campus | (CO) | $18,000.00 | All Students |
8 | University of Alaska Anchorage | (AK) | $18,331.50 $37,009.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | University of New Mexico | (NM) | $18,791.20 $18,998.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $19,615.00 | All Students |
11 | Post University | (CT) | $19,850.00 | All Students |
12 | Sam Houston State University | (TX) | $19,866.60 | All Students |
13 | The College of Saint Scholastica | (MN) | $21,225.00 | All Students |
14 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $21,436.00 $10,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
15 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | (SC) | $21,510.00 | All Students |
16 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | (WI) | $21,640.00 | All Students |
17 | University of Mary | (ND) | $21,808.00 | All Students |
18 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | (FL) | $22,440.00 $18,840.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
19 | Lasell University | (MA) | $22,536.00 | All Students |
20 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $22,722.00 $17,070.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
21 | Bellevue University | (NE) | $23,060.00 | All Students |
22 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | (MN) | $24,300.00 $21,870.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
23 | Johnson & Wales University | (RI) | $24,510.00 | All Students |
24 |  Ohio University | (OH) | $24,870.00 $25,440.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $25,641.00 $23,076.90 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
26 | Saint Louis University | (MO) | $26,790.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Regis University | (CO) | $29,740.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $29,880.00 | All Students | |
University of Michigan - Dearborn | (MI) | $30,440.00 $36,365.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | (PA) | $30,800.00 | All Students | |
City University of Seattle | (WA) | $31,275.00 | All Students | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $33,140.00 $14,690.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $35,325.00 | All Students | |
Brandeis University | (MA) | $35,350.00 | All Students | |
Boston University | (MA) | $37,925.00 | All Students | |
Georgetown University | (DC) | $44,490.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $49,007.00 | All Students | |
Stevens Institute of Technology | (NJ) | $54,700.00 | All Students | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $61,464.00 | All Students | |
New York University | (NY) | $84,944.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
AACSB AACSB International
IACBE International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
PMI GAC Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited master’s in project management online. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for project management may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best master’s in project management online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Master’s in Project Management Online
A master’s in project management online is an excellent education for people working in a variety of industries. These programs help you take on large tasks. You’ll be able to provide oversight for numerous efforts, taking a project from conception to completion while meeting all the challenges in between! Whether you are trained in engineering, business, finances, marketing, or virtually any other speciality, you can benefit from a master’s in project management.
What to Expect from Master’s in Project Management Online
Project management is the use of resources, including workers, material, and technology, to create something of significant value. This “something of significant value,” however, can be just about anything. Creating a software program, fixing a dilapidated highway, or running a year-long market campaign; all of these would require the expertise of a project manager.
Generally speaking. “project management” implies a large project. It focuses on the large-scale challenges, with projects that last months, years, even decades. Smaller jobs, such as pouring a sidewalk in front of a single house, would not really call for a project-management expert. Creating a massive walking trail across an entire city, however, could use a project manager. Creating a single advertisement is relatively simple, but creating a five-year ad campaign could certainly require a project manager. The more complex, or the more people involved, or the more time it will take to complete, the more it will likely require a project manager.
This is different than managing a store, a business, or a department. One important factor is that with project management, there is a clear start and finish point. The same can’t be said for, say, human resource or business management, which has no planned-for ending.
Classes in these programs will take many different forms. You may take courses that focus on how to select a project, which may not even consider how to complete a projects. You could also take courses on estimating materials and resources for a project, then how to go about finding those resources.
Classes may focus on project execution or how to prevent delays and other foreseeable problems. Cost reduction will likely be an important subject for anyone who studies project management. Other courses may include risk management, scheduling, and quality assurance.
Potential Careers After a Master’s in Project Management Online
Marketing Manager
- Salary: $141,490
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: Some experience required
As a marketing manager, you will create, plan, and execute marketing campaigns, which can last a few weeks or a few years; even decades. During this career, your tasks may include talking with companies about their goals, evaluating the best marketing methods, developing price strategies, and overseeing the daily activities of a marketing staff.
The pay in this career is excellent, and it generally only requires a bachelor’s degree. While experience is required, a master’s in project management online could significantly boost your resume and help you command even larger salaries while working for the top companies in the world.
Engineering Manager
- Salary: $149,530
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: 5 years or more
Engineering is extremely complex, and projects often take years to complete. With effective managers, engineering projects can be completed faster without sacrificing cost or quality. In this career, you will make detailed plans for the development of new buildings, infrastructure, or products. This can include anything from a new house to a massive bridge system.
To work in this career, you’ll obviously need a background in engineering. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, or a similar field will be required, but a master’s in project management online can help you oversee building projects of many different types.
Licensing, Certificates, Experience & Other Requirements
Management careers rarely require licensing. However, if you work in certain sectors you may need state licensing of some kind. Engineering and architectural managers, for example, may need licensing through the state. This is especially true if you will work in civil engineering or building design and construction.
Voluntary certification, while not required, can also boost your career. Many employers prefer their job candidates to have certification through leading organizations, so this could be important to landing the project management job of your choice.
Experience, more than anything else, will be required. If you are going to head the management of a project, whether it’s a building, an ad campaign, an environmental cleanup effort, or a software product, you’ll need experience. Most managers in almost any industry will need about five years of experience before they are hired. Once you have this experience, you’ll be in position to work in a rewarding area that brings some of the strongest salaries available.