by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 190 U.S. colleges awarded 6,038 degrees and certificates in Project Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 99 schools in its 2027 Best Project Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
A major in Project Management involves the study of Project Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Quantitative And Qualitative Knowledge, Skills, Tools, And Techniques To Manage Projects In A Wide Range Of Fields And Occupations. Includes Instruction In Project Planning, Risk Management, Cost And Time Management, Contracts And Procurement, Accounting, Statistics, Decision Making, And Human Resources.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, project management draws strong interest, with 6,038 degrees awarded annually. 190 colleges award project management degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 653.
By level, the 6,038 awards include 99 certificates, 169 associate degrees, 1,225 bachelor’s degrees, 4,143 master’s degrees and 10 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of project management degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,988 of 6,038). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,496) and Hispanic or Latino (864), and international students earned 193.
College Factual ranks 99 schools in its 2027 Best Project Management Schools ranking, including 28 for associate degrees, 65 for bachelor’s degrees and 68 for master’s degrees. It also ranks project management schools within 32 states. In all, 190 colleges offer project management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Project Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common project management credential is the master’s degree: 4,143 of the 6,038 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to project management call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a project management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 99 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 169 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,225 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,143 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to project management, at 53.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Master’s degree | 9.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Project Management, with an average median salary of $110,376; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Project Coordinator, Project Administrator, Project Manager and Compliance Director.
The occupation related to project management with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
Project Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to project management is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Project Management has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 415,714 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Organizational Leadership (16,833) and Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 352,768 |
| Organizational Leadership | 16,833 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Retail Management | 1,363 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 805 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 506 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
