by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 147 U.S. colleges awarded 5,495 degrees and certificates in Construction Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 91 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $73,015 one year after completing, rising to $95,436 after four years.
Do you love building things? Do you have a vision for the big picture and the ability to manage all the parts that make your vision a reality? Construction Management may be a field of interest to you.
Constructing a building takes planning, specialized knowledge and skills in management. Many things can go wrong, and many unplanned complications can occur. This is what makes Construction Managers so essential. They handle everything, from managing the crew, reading blueprints, and meeting deadlines. Students who pursue a major in Construction Management will learn how to schedule, supervise, and budget various projects.
While focusing on this major you will be taking classes in architecture, civil engineering, blueprint reading, real estate, and engineering technology. The major is available as either an Associates of a Bachelor's degree. Students with prior work experience may only need to obtain their Associates, however Bachelor's degrees tend to lend themselves to higher paying positions with more responsibility.
A degree in Construction Management explores Construction Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, construction management is a popular field of study, with 5,495 degrees awarded annually. 147 colleges award construction management degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 428.
By level, the 5,495 awards include 216 certificates, 686 associate degrees, 3,380 bachelor’s degrees, 1,205 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 14% of construction management degrees and certificates in the latest year (796 of 5,495). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,545) and Hispanic or Latino (962), and international students earned 206.
College Factual ranks 91 schools in its 2027 Best Construction Management Schools ranking, including 21 for associate degrees, 68 for bachelor’s degrees and 13 for master’s degrees. It also ranks construction management schools within 33 states. In all, 147 colleges offer construction management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Construction Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common construction management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,380 of the 5,495 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to construction management call most for Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Administration and Management, Building and Construction and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Construction Management can be a very exciting field, as every project consists of building something new. Mathematical and Scientific skills are needed in order to be successful within this field. You will be working with budgets, time estimations and multiple schedules; keeping everything going requires time management and the ability to multitask.
Prior work experience is highly regarded in this field. You may wish to find a part time job doing construction to get hands-on experience in the field. You can also seek internships while in college in order to gain experience and better understanding of construction.
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How long a construction management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 216 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 686 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,380 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,205 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to construction management, at 33.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 12.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.2% |
| Some college courses | 8.2% |
| Master’s degree | 7.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Construction Management, with an average median salary of $76,309; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Project Coordinator, Construction Project Manager, Maintenance of Way Superintendent (MOW Superintendent) and Bridges and Buildings Supervisor.
A degree in Construction Management can lead to many different career options. One quickly growing job field is that of a Construction and Building Inspector. In this job you will make sure that all construction, repairs and changes to locations are legal and comply with codes.
Some graduates are interested in pursuing work as Drafter, converting designs made by engineers and architects into technical drawings and plans. Other options include becoming construction managers, electricians, architects, and property managers.
The occupation related to construction management with the most projected jobs is Construction Managers, at 496,716.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Managers | 496,716 | -0.3% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Project Management Specialists | 68,476 | -2.8% |
Construction Management graduates earn a median $73,015 one year after completing their program, $95,436 after four years and $94,261 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $73,015 |
| 4 years | $95,436 |
| 5 years | $94,261 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to construction management, with a median salary of $83,791.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Construction Managers | $83,791 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Project Management Specialists | $64,559 |
Construction Management includes 3 concentrations that together award 5,495 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Construction Management, General (5,398), Construction Project Management (66) and Construction Management, Other (31). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 878,654 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Construction Management, General | 5,398 |
| Construction Project Management | 66 |
| Construction Management, Other | 31 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
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