by our College Data Analytics TeamProject Management was the 250th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,237 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 524 over the prior year, a growth of 12.4%.
Our 2023 Best Project Management Schools ranking analyzes 62 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for project management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of project management programs later in this article.
Project Management majors are found most commonly in careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is important. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific project management careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Project Management degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in project management to the highest project management degree, a . The time it takes to complete a project management degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to project management, with approximately 54.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for project management workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 52.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 19.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3.7% |
About 85.6% of workers in careers related to project management obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in project management have received.
The education level required is different depending on the project management career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your project management degree? Project Management careers are expected to grow 9.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to project management.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Business Professors | 123,000 | 18.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for project management graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for project management graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers project management grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Business Professors | $103,330 |
With over 261 different project management degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased project management school rankings to help you with this.
One of 15 majors within the Business Administration & Management area of study, Project Management has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Business Administration and Management | 353,401 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,171 |
| Interior Design Management | 14,326 |
| Supply Chain Management | 10,986 |
| Operations Management | 7,153 |
