Online Project Management Degrees
Project managers are key to successful businesses: they ensure that teams efficiently and consistently complete projects and operations successfully. By pursuing an online project management degree, you’ll learn how to best manage projects within a variety of industries, helping organizations of all types develop and streamline processes. A project management online degree will prepare you to work in a number of fields, including construction, technology, and marketing.
Due to the broad nature of an online project management degree, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not cite project management as an individual profession. However, specific project management roles, such as Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers, are projected to grow 9% between 2014-2024. The job market for project managers remains steady, as companies continue to rely on their organizational skills and insight to keep work going.
If you thrive while helping people and businesses move forward, a project management degree online could be a great fit for you. Project management is a dynamic profession that will engage you in complex management and operations situations within organizations. To be successful in the field, you’ll need to have strong communication, organization, and problem solving skills. Additionally, you should have stellar people skills, since project managers work with team members at every level within an organization.
“I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills with a training program that provided tips and techniques I could implement for my clients right away.”
Online Project Management Degree Overview
| Degree | Avg Degree Cost | Avg Loan Default Rate | Time Commitment | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $15,746 | 8.76% | 4 years | $50,000 | $68,200 | 4.8% |
| Master's | $20,919 | 6.13% | 2 years | $63,100 | $107,376 | 5.1% |
If you are interested in pursuing a project management degree online, the majority of jobs in this profession require at least a bachelor’s degree. As more and more online project management degree programs become available to you, your options for future occupations grow wider. Take some time familiarizing yourself with your areas of interest to learn how a bachelor’s degree can help you reach your career goals.
Choosing Your Project Management Careers
Average Project Management Salaries
Sales Manager
| Growth Rate 2014-2024 | Number of Jobs: 2014 | Degree | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 376,300 | Masters | N/A |
An organization’s sales team is overseen by a sales manager. By using sales data and customer feedback, sales managers plan and develop strategies to generate new clients and customers for their company. The most successful sales managers have exceptionally strong people and communication skills. Sales managers work with a variety of people while also frequently traveling, and the turbulent nature of the position requires a level of internal resilience.
Construction Managers
| Growth Rate 2014-2024 | Number of Jobs: 2014 | Degree | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 373,200 | Bachelor's | Certified Construction Manager (CCM) |
Construction projects require daily monitoring. Construction managers create timetables, develop cost estimates, communicate with clients and subcontractors, and quickly respond to emergencies. They are responsible for construction projects being completed both on budget and on time. The job outlook is especially promising for those with prior construction experience and anyone who can meet tight deadlines under challenging circumstances.
Compensation and Benefits Managers
| Growth Rate 2014-2024 | Number of Jobs: 2014 | Degree | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% | 16,900 | Bachelor's | N/A |
Before a company can provide clients and customers with quality services, they first need to support their own employees. This is where compensation and benefits managers come in. As a compensation and benefits manager, you are the one coordinating and organizing the methods by which an organization pays its employees. This includes planning and executing the benefits an organization provides employees as well. This role is a particularly good fit for those who have experience in a similar role, such as in HR, and those who enjoy working with people.
Marketing Managers
| Growth Rate 2014-2024 | Number of Jobs: 2014 | Degree | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9% | 225,200 | Bachelor's | N/A |
In a world where people see endless images and messages each day, how do you get a single product or service to stand out among the crowd? Marketing managers are the ones who spearhead projects to entice customers. Marketing communicate with everyone from the sales team, to finance, and art directors. This occupation is a good fit for creative thinkers who enjoy collaborating with others.
Administrative Services Managers
| Growth Rate 2014-2024 | Number of Jobs: 2014 | Degree | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8% | 287,300 | Bachelor's | N/A |
As an administrative services manager, you help industries succeed by managing vital support services. While specific duties vary between organizations, you might find yourself ordering office supplies, maintaining company records, and helping with facility upkeep. A successful administrative services manager is someone who is organized, a clear communicator, and a strong multitasker. While administrative services managers are often background players in an organization, they can be the backbone that keeps an organization running smoothly.
Online Project Management Degree in Action
Gerald J. Leonard Project Management
Gerald J. Leonard is the author of Culture Is The Bass: 7 Principles for Developing A Culture That Works, and the CEO of Principles of Execution. As a consultant, he’s achieved the PfMP, PMP, MCTS, and ITIL certificates. His consulting practice focuses on project portfolio management and helping organizations develop a culture that works.
He acquired certifications in project management and business intelligence from the University of California, Berkeley; theory of constraints portfolio management technical expert from the Goldratt Institute, Hoshin Kanri with Karen Roberts; as well as an executive leadership certification from Cornell University.
Why did you decide to pursue your project management certification online?
When I decided to pursue a project management training and certification program, I was working as a full-time project server consultant, and I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills with a training program that provided tips and techniques I could implement for my clients right away. I didn’t have time in my schedule to attend a class, and I wanted more than a boot camp. I’m also a husband and father of two and I volunteer at my church on a weekly basis, so my time was very limited.
What did you find to be the greatest advantages of online learning?
I was able to take one course at a time and the materials, books, and class exercises were real world examples and practical. I was able to use my experience from past projects as examples for my class assignments and most importantly I was gaining insights that I could implement for my clients on a regular basis. The course curriculum follows the Project Management Institute outline and educational requirements so that I could apply what I was learning to my PMP educational requirements.
What did you find most challenging about the online format?
Most of my previous educational experience was in a classroom setting, but with online training, you are isolated, and you have to manage your time effectively to complete your assignments on time. I’m naturally pretty good at managing my time and getting things done, hence my career choice in project management, but I had to get comfortable interacting with my classmates and instructors online through chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards.
Do you feel that online certification prepared you for your career in the same way that an on-campus program would?
Yes, even more so, because I could complete an assignment and apply it that same night to a project I was working on. It was more effective because I didn’t have the commute to a campus, and if I learned something that I wanted to try and test out, I could do it right away.
What advice would you give students who plan on earning a project management degree/certification online?
The quality of an online project management degree or certification program depends on the quality of the institute you attend. The university I selected to attend for my online training was ranked as one of the best in the country for online and on-campu learning. Because the content for the online program would be the same as the on-campus instructions, I was confident that I was getting the best education I needed with the flexibility I required for my work / life balance. Also, take your time; the project management curriculum is very dense and requires a lot of study time to consume and master. By taking my time and applying what I learned every day for my clients, I was able to become an expert in my field and have spoken at PMI events across the country.
Online Project Management Degrees
Bachelor’s
One of the more exciting aspects of preparing for a position in project management world is the number of choices you have in your career path. If you find yourself interested in pursuing a project management online degree, it’s wise to explore what obtaining a bachelor’s degree might look like, as many project management roles require one. The average cost of a bachelor’s online project management degree is $15,746; most programs take four years to complete. For many project management occupations, such as construction managers and administrative services managers, a bachelor’s degree is often required in order to pursue the position. Taking the time to explore your potential of obtaining a project management degree online can help you find the perfect program fit.
- Sample Courses
- Project Management Tools, Assessing and Managing Risk, Effective Project Scheduling, Principles of Management
- Common Majors
- Healthcare Management, Business Administration, Public and Non-Profit Management
- Potential Jobs
- Training and Development Managers, Medical and Health Services Managers, Computer and Information Systems Managers, Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Average Income
- $102,640 for Training and Development Managers, $94,500 for Medical and Health Services Managers, $131,600 for Computer and Information Systems Managers, and $104,140 for Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Employment Prospects
- From 2014-2024, 7% increase for Training and Development Manager, 17% increase for Medical and Health Services Managers, 15% increase for Computer and Information Systems Managers, and 7% increase for Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
Master’s
In the course of your studies and professional career, you may determine that you need a master’s degree. A master’s can increase your average income and open professional doors. However, before jumping into a master’s degree program, it’s important to know what you’ll be signing up for. Students take an average of two years to complete their master’s degree, and most programs cost about $20,000. One detail to keep in mind is that the early career salary for bachelor’s holders is $50,000, while those holding a master’s degree make an average of $63,100 per year. If you’re looking to take the next step in your career, a master’s degree could be the way to go.
- Sample Courses
- Operations Management; Contracts, Procurement, and Risk Management; Project Planning, Execution and Closure; Managerial Marketing
- Common Majors
- Accounting, Human Resource Management, and Teaching and Learning
- Potential Jobs
- Postsecondary Education Administrators; Financial Managers; Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
- Average Income
- $88,580 for Postsecondary Education Administrators, $117, 990 for Financial Managers, $90, 410 for Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
- Employment Prospects
- For 2014-2024, 9% increase for Postsecondary Education Administrators, 7% increase for Financial Managers, and 6% increase for Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
The Top 5 Online Master's Degrees in Project Management
| Rank | School Name | School Logo | City | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
George Washington University |
Washington |
|
|
| 2 |
Brandeis University |
Waltham |
|
|
| 3 |
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
Winona |
|
|
| 4 |
University of Wisconsin - Platteville |
Platteville |
|
|
| 5 |
Drexel University |
Philadelphia |
|