[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-4″]The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm?view_full#tab-6/”]9% growth rate for the construction management field[/hen-ui-link] between 2023 and 2033.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As the nation continues to construct buildings and improve infrastructure, the demand for qualified construction managers will continue to grow. With an online construction management degree, you position yourself to compete for these lucrative jobs. According to BLS, the top 10% of construction managers make $172,040, significantly more than the median average salary for all occupations. The lowest 10%, meanwhile, made $64,480, which is well above the national average.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]The Best Online Construction Management Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”what-to-expect”]What Else Can I Expect From an Online Construction Management Program?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Example Courses for an Online Construction Management Bachelor’s Program[/hen-ui-heading]

• Introduction to the Construction Industry: This course, which is typically the first of a construction management degree online program, provides a general overview of the construction process. Students learn about industry standards and contracts, as well as procurement methods, terminology, and career paths a degree holder can take.

• Construction Materials and Methods: Students review the basic materials used in construction, learning about their properties, sizes, and uses. This online construction management degree course also looks at building methods, including analyzing methods for both structural and non-structural design. Topics include temporary structures, specialty trades, and construction equipment.

• Estimating and Bid Preparation: This course teaches learners about construction software and how to apply cost. Topics include the principles of contract bids, techniques in estimating cost, and the fundamentals of quantity take-off. Students leave the course with the ability to calculate and prepare an official bid document.

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Example Courses for an Online Construction Management Master’s Program[/hen-ui-heading]

• Construction Accounting and Finance: This accounting course provides a follow-up to the basic estimating courses offered in a construction management bachelor’s degree online program. In it, students study topics like cost control, financial statements, and job cost as it pertains to construction projects.

• Real Estate Analysis: This concentration course for students enrolled in a master’s in construction management online program covers such real estate topics as asset valuation and management, ownership structure, appraisal, and advanced financial modeling. Students also learn how to negotiate, manage a portfolio, and account for affordable housing.

• Sustainable Design: This online construction management degree course explores building sustainable structures, including those that account for energy efficiency and alternative energy. Online learners examine topics like Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED), carbon footprinting, and green building. They also study management issues related to cost and the cyclical process.

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How Long Does It Take to Get a Construction Management Degree?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-card title=”How to Choose Your Major” href=”/resources/how-to-choose-your-major/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card] [hen-ui-article-card title=”What to Look for in an Online College” href=”/resources/what-to-look-for-online-college/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Those in construction management typically hold a bachelor’s degree, which is 120 credits and takes an average of four years to complete. In addition to what students learn in school, they also gain valuable training on the job. According to the BLS, most firms prefer to hire individuals who hold real-world experience.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Program length of an undergraduate online construction management degree varies. While full-time students with no transfer credits can graduate in four years, part-time students may take up to six. Meanwhile, master’s in construction management online students usually spend two years earning their credentials. Master’s programs generally require 30-36 credits.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Program lengths vary depending on transfer credit, start dates, and learning format. If competency-based or self-paced, a student can move through course material at a quicker pace. With a cohort, however, a student stays with the same group through graduation. Programs with more than three start dates per year can also affect how long it takes a student to complete program requirements. Some schools, for example, offer five or six terms a year.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”transfer”]Transferring to a Master’s Program With a Bachelor’s Degree[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The projected 9% growth for construction managers, according to the BLS, will increasingly include jobs where firms are looking for individuals with specialized education and who can help immediately with complex projects. There are more than 100 colleges and universities that offer an accredited bachelor’s degree in a construction-related major. While there are fewer institutions that offer a master’s in construction management today, look for this number to grow over the next decade as well.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Given this, a student with an online construction management degree should look at pursuing a master’s in construction management online. While it typically takes an additional two years of schooling, the career benefits may well be worth it. Many firms look for relevant experience, and in a master’s program, one can choose to focus on an area of emphasis, like real estate development or sustainability, which would stand out to a hiring company. The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119021.htm”]median salary for construction managers[/hen-ui-link] is $104,900.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”accreditation”]Accreditation for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Those looking at online construction management degrees and schools should always check for accreditation. Accreditation provides prospective students with the assurance that a school or program meets or exceeds established standards of quality. Independent agencies, [hen-ui-link href=”https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/agency-list/”]some recognized by ED and some not[/hen-ui-link], grant accreditation following a voluntary evaluation by the school or department.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are two types of institutional accreditation: national and regional. Six recognized accreditors (MSCHE, NEASC, HLC, NCCU, SACS, and WASC) grant regional accreditation across the nation and for several American territories. National accreditors, which are not all recognized by ED, typically evaluate for-profit and technical or vocational schools.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To qualify for federal financial aid and in many instances, to transfer course credit, you must attend a regionally accredited school or enroll in a recognized program.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”finance”]Financing Your Online Construction Management Program[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students looking for ways to finance their online construction management degree should start by making sure they get their [hen-ui-link href=”https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa”]Free Application for Federal Student Aid[/hen-ui-link] (FAFSA) submitted on time. This application will check your eligibility for scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans. A FAFSA is a requirement to qualify for many private-sector financial awards as well. Be sure to research scholarships, contests, and other programs at the local, state, and national levels, and look for offers from your industry’s professional organizations. Construction students should check out offers from the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aic-builds.org/”]American Institute for Constructors[/hen-ui-link] (AIC), and the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.abc.org/Education-Training/Trimmer-Construction-Education-Fund/Build-Your-Future-Scholarship”]Associated Builders and Contractors[/hen-ui-link] (ABC).[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ id=”careers”]What Can I Do With a Construction Management Degree?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Today, one needs a bachelor’s degree in construction management to enter the field. While less common, holding a master’s degree in construction management will help you stand out in a competitive market, as an advanced degree allows you to specialize in an area like real estate development, building and design, or architectural engineering. The BLS notes the top industries for construction managers are heavy and civil engineering construction, residential and nonresidential building construction, and specialty trade contractors.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Career Paths for Graduates of Construction Management Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holding a construction management master’s or bachelor’s degree prepares you for career paths in design and project management. All fields look for individuals with not only educational credentials and relevant experience but also the soft skills that make them promising team leaders. Construction managers tend to possess analytical skills, business skills, and initiative, along with technical, speaking, and time-management skills. What’s more, many construction managers work for themselves, meaning they rely solely on themselves to land a job, negotiate a bid, and oversee a project. The BLS reports that, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm?view_full#tab-3/”]36% of construction managers were self-employed[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background” theme=”secondary”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Construction Managers”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b3″ class=”font-semibold”]Median Salary: $104,900[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm?view_full#tab-1/”]Construction managers[/hen-ui-link] are responsible for planning the budgets, execution of projections, and organization of workers for construction jobs.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Architectural and Engineering Managers”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b3″ class=”font-semibold”]Median Salary: $165,370[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm”]Architectural and engineering managers[/hen-ui-link] plan, direct, and coordinate projects and activities. An engineering manager supervises staff, provides quality assurance of a staff’s work, and ensures the methods used by the company are sound. They primarily work in offices, though they also find opportunities in production facilities and construction sites.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Landscape Architects”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b3″ class=”font-semibold”]Median Salary: $79,320[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/landscape-architects.htm”]Landscape architects[/hen-ui-link] work on the design and planning of new spaces. Landscape architects work on the development of or upgrade to parks and outdoor spaces for residential areas, campuses, and recreational facilities.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Surveyors”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b3″ class=”font-semibold”]Median Salary: $68,540[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/surveyors.htm#tab-1/”]Surveyors[/hen-ui-link] provide engineering, mapmaking, and construction companies with the measurements needed to determine property boundaries and where building can begin and stop. The BLS reports 71% of surveyors in 2016 worked for the private sector, specifically architectural, engineering, and related services companies.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm text-right”]Header Image Credit: kali9 | Getty Images[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Popular with our students.” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”970,1538,905″][/hen-ui-article-row]