Best Online Construction Management Degree

Construction management is ideal for task-oriented individuals who don’t want to sit behind a desk all day. Construction management often involves on-site supervision and decision-making against a tight deadline.

With a median pay of more than $100,000 and a faster-than-average projected job growth rate, a construction management degree can set students up for a successful career.

Read on to learn more about construction management degrees and how to break into this fast-growing field.

If you enjoy spending time on a job site and have an aptitude for business management, you might do well with construction management. The program typically requires 120 credits, including both general education coursework and major classes. Some schools also require students to take related courses in areas like economics or accounting.

Construction management focuses heavily on math, science, and engineering. You’ll also delve into safety regulations, project management, and sustainability. Some courses require lab work as well as a capstone experience or internship.

Online programs in construction management typically do not require any in-person attendance or residency. Construction management programs typically do not offer separate concentrations, but they may allow you to choose electives or interdepartmental courses to match your specific interests.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is set to reshape the landscape across industries — construction managers will need to be familiar with the technology regardless of whether they’re working behind a desk or on site.

While AI won’t replace on-site workers and managers anytime soon, being familiar with the fast-growing and high-demand technology can give you a leg up on the competition when it comes to finding jobs after graduation. AI can help with numerous aspects of construction management, like writing reports and sifting through data, so seeking out a program that features some AI instruction may boost your employability and job prospects.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that construction manager jobs will grow by 9% between 2023-2033, faster than the average growth rate for all jobs (4%). Construction managers had a median annual salary of $104,900 per year as of May 2023, according to the BLS.

Salary potential and job market projections compare favorably to other undergraduate degrees. With a construction management degree, you can also go into related fields like facilities management or sustainability consulting.

Although not always necessary, you can choose to go on to earn a master’s degree in construction management. Earning an advanced degree could open up additional opportunities for raises or promotions.

A master’s degree could also be helpful when trying to switch to a different career focus. For example, if a student has experience primarily in cost estimating but wants to become a facilities manager, earning a master’s degree could help make the student more competitive.