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Project Management is truly an up-and-coming profession. Organizations are realizing the benefit of having dedicated professionals whose main purpose is to keep things running smoothly, under budget, and on schedule. For individuals who enjoy leadership and organization, this is a promising career path. With that in mind, it is no surprise that a Master’s degree in Project Management is one of the most popular online master’s degrees.
In this field, perhaps more so than in any other, quality is important. Less than 100 post-graduate schools internationally are accredited by the most recognized and prestigious project management accrediting body, the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Global Accreditation Center (GAC). Of that number, only 53 schools are PMI-GAC accredited in North America. In lieu of full PMI accreditation, many schools seek recognition as a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). This designation means that the coursework in the degree program must meet the PMI’s Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) standards and integrate leadership development with specific project management curricular excellence (only 1,800 schools around the world are designated as R.E.P. schools, and only 730 in the United States can claim the distinction). Individuals can also seek the stamp of approval through the PMI—the ultimate goal for Project Management degree seekers would be to gain credentials known as Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, the highest level of recognition and expertise a Project Management professional can achieve.
Some programs in which project management is a concentration or emphasis area, such as a business administration (MBA), information technology (IT) or engineering degree, have accreditation through agencies more specific to the college or school. Accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) would then be the standard.
See Also: Best Industrial Engineering Master’s Programs
Quick Links to Our Top 10
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Northeastern University
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Western Carolina University
- Boston University
- University of Texas at Dallas
- City University of Seattle
- Colorado State University-Global Campus
- Granite State College
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Methodology: Points were awarded with equal weight determined by the following criteria (with a range of point possibilities from zero to one within each category). If programs were awarded the same number of points, the school was ranked based on lowest average out-of-state tuition per credit hour as the tie-breaking factor.
- Program Accreditation (25%): High marks for schools with accreditation from the PMI-GAC or from a reputable business or engineering school accrediting body
- Accessibility (25%): Extent degree can be completed online
- Reputation and Recognition (25%): Commendation and placement in well-known and reputable rankings such as U.S. News & World Report
- Clear Career-Advancing Focus (25%): Specific Career Services and resources and clearly stated on website that the program is led by and/or aligned with PMBOK® standards and/or a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.)
PMP® and PMI® and PMBOK® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
#1. Stevens Institute of Technology
A family of inventors and entrepreneurial engineers created Stevens Institute of Technology in 1868 in Hoboken, New Jersey. One member of the family, Edwin A. Stevens, passed away and bequeathed money in his will to establish the school, and it initially focused on mechanical engineering when it opened in 1870 (making it the first college in America to have that focus). Now the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science is joined by the School of Systems & Enterprises, the School of Business, and the College of Arts & Letters to provide over 100 different academic degree programs to a student enrollment of almost 7,000 graduate and undergraduates. In addition to the Hoboken main campus, a satellite campus is located in Washington, D.C. A private, coeducational research institution, Stevens has been regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1927.
Program Details: Ideal for professionals who consider themselves “forward-thinking leaders,” the 30-credit hour Master’s in Enterprise Project Management degree program is offered entirely online through Steven’s School of Business. A PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.)., the Steven’s master degree program curriculum provides 35 professional development units (PDUs) towards Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or if a student is already certified, maintenance of the certification. The core curriculum covers topics such as “Leader Development” and “Project Analytics,” and three concentration areas are available to customize the degree. Students can choose between the general track, which focuses on strategy, finances and leadership, or from specialized technical-focused concentrations in either Software Engineering or Construction Management. This program offers convenience and excellence through live, interactive classes and collaborative group projects–creating “leaders capable of driving change” in their organizations. In addition to the assistance for online students offered through the nationally-recognized Stevens Career Center, online students receive dedicated and specific online support through the Continuing and Professional Student Care Center. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#2. Northeastern University
The Evening Institute for Young Men, which first offered classes at the Huntington Avenue YMCA in 1898, would go on to become Northeastern University (NU) in 1917. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, NU also has graduate-degree satellite campuses in three other states—North Carolina, Washington, and California—and one in Canada. Frank Palmer Speare, the school’s first director, claimed it “started with an eraser and two sticks of chalk.” Now NU has nine schools and colleges to provide over 300 academic degree programs to the more than 20,000 enrolled students. One appealing feature offered by Northeastern is its co-op program, which maintains relationships with over 3,000 partners around the world to offer students professional experience in addition to academics. This private coeducational institution has been designated as having highest research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, and regional accreditation is granted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Addressing “every phase of this essential business discipline,” the online Master of Science in Project Management degree program through the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies prepares graduates to be ethical, competent, and effective leaders. Utilizing substantive case studies, the curriculum of this 45-quarter hour program grounds students with the “techniques and tools for managing long- and short-term projects successfully and economically.” Core courses such as “Project Scope Management” and “Risk Management” can be followed by electives that cover topics such as “Leading Remote Project Teams” and “Negotiation, Mediation, and Facilitation.” Students have eight concentration areas from which to choose. Full-time students can complete the program in just one year, and part-time students generally complete it in two years. Students can take full advantage of the College of Professional Studies Career Resources, which offers students assistance with everything from career-planning to technical help such as resumé-building and creating one’s own personal brand. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#3. Florida Institute of Technology
Physicist Jerome P. Keuper had the idea to create a university rich in science and technology in the 1950s—right around the beginning of the “space race.” Dr. Keuper was working at Cape Canaveral at that time, and established Brevard Engineering College in Melbourne, Florida in 1958. Originally offering night classes as part of the U.S. space program, the school has grown to become Florida Institute of Technology (“Florida Tech” or “FIT”), which provides “high-quality education to a culturally diverse student body in order to prepare students for entering the global workforce, seeking higher-education opportunities, and serving within their communities.” Primarily a residential school, five colleges are housed within this private coeducational research-intensive university offering both on-campus and online academic degree programs to approximately 6,500 graduate and undergraduate students. Florida Tech is located in a 130-acre campus, and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Offered through the FIT Virtual Site, Florida Tech’s Master of Science in Project Management degree program can be completed entirely online (or on-site at several different locations). A strong program that appeals to students who desire “managerial positions where they assume responsibility for improving business performance,” two dedicated concentrations are available in Information Systems and Operations Research, or students can opt to select electives to create their own concentration customization. Requiring 33-credit hours in order to graduate, the curriculum is “relevant to today’s workplace” with such classes as “Organizational Behavior,” “Cost and Economics Analysis,” and “Project Tools and Techniques,” as well as a final, hands-on Capstone project. In addition, the Florida Tech Project Management curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Prerequisite courses may be required or waived depending upon a student’s undergraduate degree–applicants to the program should consult with an advisor to determine their need. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#4. Western Carolina University
Families in the Cullowhee Valley area of North Carolina in the late 1800s needed to provide a better education for their children, so they formed a community school in 1888. The second year of the school’s existence, a teacher named Robert Lee Madison was hired to run the school. Within several years Madison secured funds from the state to form the Cullowhee Academy, which served as a normal school to train more teachers for the area. This teacher-training school would add more programs and grow to become Western Carolina University (WCU or simply “Western”) by 1967. In 1972, WCU became part of the University of North Carolina System, and now this public coeducational school enrolls over 11,000 students. Located in the mountains on nearly 600 acres in the unincorporated village of Cullowhee, North Carolina, WCU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Having the distinction of being the very first PMI-GAC accredited project management program, the Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program through WCU’s School of Economics, Management and Project Management covers all the bases–all courses are pre-approved to contribute to the necessary requirements in order to sit for the PMP Credential certification, or for students who already have their PMP certification, to receive the professional development units (PDUs) to maintain their credentials. In addition, all faculty members have both a doctoral degree and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Housed in the AACSB accredited College of Business and offering a “global focus,” WCU’s MPM program “strives to be the pre-eminent comprehensive educational program for professional project managers.” Classes in the 36-credit hour program are offered entirely online, beginning in either January or August, and can be completed in two years. Students are expected to be mid-career level with two years of relevant work experience, and the Center for Career and Professional Development is available to all online students and graduates as a resource. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#5. Boston University
Boston University (BU) had its start as the Newbury Biblical Institute in 1839. Originally located in Newbury, Vermont, the school was started by Methodist Episcopal (later United Methodists) delegates from Boston. Moving first to Concord, New Hampshire, the school finally settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867 and was chartered anew as the Boston Theological Institute. This would eventually lead to the establishment and expansion of BU, and now the main campus is located along the Charles River, with other campuses across Boston, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Sydney, and Washington, D.C. Today the school enrolls over 33,000 students and employs nearly 4,000 faculty members in Boston. Designated by the Carnegie Foundation with very high research activity, BU is a member of both the Boston Consortium for Higher Education and the Association of American Universities. Regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, BU is a private, nonsectarian institution.
Program Details: AACSB accredited Boston University’s Metropolitan College provides a Master of Science in Project Management degree program that offers students a “unique opportunity to combine a broad knowledge of business and management principles with a specific knowledge of successful project-based strategies.” Entirely online, as a hybrid program, or on-campus, this MS degree gives students the immense benefit of learning from “internationally recognized and research-focused instructors who are also practitioners.” Requiring 40-credit hours and taking between eighteen months to two years to graduate, students who have already achieved their PMI credentials can gain up to 45 PDUs. A huge boon for the online student, BU employs specific Instructional Designers to instruct and guide instructors as they craft their online coursework, leading to an exceptional distance education curriculum and student experience. In addition, BU collaborates with the resource Smarthinking™, offering both current online students and alum the assistance of 24/7 online tutoring support. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#6. University of Texas at Dallas
Eugene McDermott, J. Erik Jonsson and Cecil Green—the three founders of Texas Instruments, a global Fortune 500 company—wanted a school that would serve two purposes: to keep technically-talented young people in Texas instead of losing them to tech-oriented universities in other states, and to train these young men and women to work for them. In 1961, they formed the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest. When the three founders amicably transferred the school’s assets to the State of Texas, the school was renamed University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), and it is located 18 miles north of Dallas in Richardson, Texas. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having the highest research activity, UT Dallas enrolls more than 26,000 students in almost 140 academic degree programs. This coeducational public institution has eight schools and receives its regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The MS in Management Science (MS MAS) degree with a Project Management concentration is one of three possibilities through the Project Management Program at the AACSB accredited UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management. Students can participate in the 20-credit hour project management core to purse a certificate, further their education with 19 more credit hours through the MS MAS degree program, or continue even further to gain an MBA degree with project management emphasis by taking 14 more credits. Starting as a cohort, students experience the core and obtain their certificate in twelve months. Going on towards the MS MAS degree, students are privileged to engage in an International Study Trip in which they “attend courses at a local university with local students, dialogue with managers from local companies regarding business practices and be immersed in the culture of the country they are visiting.” As a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), classes such as “Project Execution Planning” and “Information Technology for Management” allow UT Dallas to issue PDUs to currently-certified individuals in order to maintain their credentials. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#7. City University of Seattle
Opening as City University in 1973, the intention of City University of Seattle (CityU) was to provide an educational opportunity to working adults and non-traditional aged students. Founded in Seattle, Washington by Dr. Michael A. Pastore, CityU has a network of partnerships that allow for an “education access worldwide” to its students all across the globe through on-campus and online resources at other schools. The curriculum for each program at CityU is crafted by knowledgeable professionals in their fields to produce an education that is “is results-oriented, hands-on, and informed by what industry demands now.” Six schools (the School of Management, Albright School of Education, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Leadership, the Technology Institute, and Washington Academy of Languages) provide academic degree programs to the more than 6,700 enrolled students. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities grants full regional accreditation to CityU.
Program Details: CityU’s ACBSP accredited School of Management presents an online Master of Science in Project Management that is accessible to “anyone with an undergraduate degree who wishes to aid organizations in realizing opportunities to grow their business.” Providing a curriculum replete with “tangible, practical skills,” classes cover topics like “Measuring Project Performance for Success,” “Mastering Portfolios and Programs,” and “Leading Domestic and Global Teams.” And as a R.E.P. for PMI, the courses in this 45-credit hour program count as continuing education credits to maintain PMP certification. Since the School of Management has a mission to “advance the individual competency and professional development of ethical leaders worldwide,” students of the MS in Project Management not only get the benefit of a “relevant education taught by practitioner faculty,” but also the assistance of the Online Career Management Community, which offers tips, tools, resources and skill-building for students to have a “successful career strategy.” Accredited by PMI-GAC
#8. Colorado State University-Global Campus
When the Colorado State University System Board of Governors determined in 2007 to provide for the development of a comprehensive university that would solely engage students online, they went forward with the project by allocating a $12 million-dollar loan for the future school. With the goal of creating “innovative, higher learning opportunities for nontraditional students in Colorado and beyond,” the new school would be independent but affiliated with both the Colorado State University System’s flagship institution, Colorado State University-Fort Collins, and Colorado State University-Pueblo. Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global Campus) broke figurative ground as an online institution, and classes began being offered in 2008 to the 200 enrolled students. Now over 15,000 students are currently enrolled and participate in the online learning programs offered through CSU-Global Campus. Headquarters for the school are in Greenwood Village Colorado, and regional accreditation is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: As one would expect from a university that only offers online programs, the CSU-Global Campus offers an entirely online Master of Project Management degree program that utilizes a “a scholar-practitioner model.” This model means that the “rigorous learning experience is facilitated in an internet-based, technology-enabled, yet personally-interactive environment.” The 36-credit hour program is in line with the PMBOK®, and the curriculum is constructed to help students prepare to successfully sit for the PMP certification exam. Students study relevant topics in classes such as “Project Metrics, Monitoring, and Control” and “Contracts, Procurement, and Risk Management” and can choose from a vast array of specialization options. Fifteen specializations are available, to be exact, ranging from Applied Business Management to Finance to Information Technology. CSU-Global provides start dates at the beginning of each month, so students can start at the best time for their schedules–as an added bonus, every class is offered every term for ultimate choice and convenience. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#9. Granite State College
In the summer of 1972, Granite State College was founded as the School of Continuing Studies. With a main campus and headquarters located in Concord, New Hampshire, the school was established (and remains) as one of the four institutions of higher education within the University System of New Hampshire (the others being University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College). With a mission “to expand access to public higher education to adults of all ages throughout the state of New Hampshire and beyond,” Granite State College began offering online programs in 1991 and is now nationally recognized for the quality of the academic programs. Seven campus locations throughout the state and partnerships with the Community College System of New Hampshire provide the over 3,000 currently enrolled students with more than 60 academic degree and certificate options. Granite State College has been regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges since 1981.
Program Details: A 30-credit hour MS in Project Management degree is available entirely online through Granite State College in a “practice-oriented program.” Students engage in relevant class topics such as “Risk Management,” “Leading Teams,” and “Project Planning and Scheduling,” and students who desire to gain their PMP credentials will develop “competency in the components of project management required for certification.” Since Granite State focuses on providing in-depth and applicable education to working adults, students of the MS in Project Management program can be sure that all Career Services resources are made available to them–in fact, not only current students, but also alum and individuals who are even considering attending a Granite State program, are welcome to utilize the comprehensive career services. In addition, Granite State is interested in the experience students bring in to their academic journeys and makes this evident through the College Credit for Life Experience possibilities. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Two visionaries of the 1920s led to the creation of what is now the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). John Paul Riddle and T. Higbee Embry opened the Embry-Riddle Company in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1925 to train aviators. Although the school closed just five years later, it was reestablished in Miami, Florida in 1939 and then moved to Daytona Beach in 1965. Becoming a full university in 1968, the school was officially renamed Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1970. A worldwide program was launched in 1970 as well, and a second campus was opened in Prescott, Arizona eight years later. Now more than 31,000 students are enrolled in the over 80 academic degree programs offered by ERAU online or at one of the two residential campuses. In addition to aviation, the programs cover subjects in applied science, business, computers and technology, engineering, intelligence and security issues, and space. ERAU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Students of the MS in Project Management degree program in the College of Business at ERAU are supplied “with a dynamic educational experience that translates to the business world.” This 30-credit hour program offered online through Embry-Riddle Worldwide provides students with professors who are all PMP certified and capable of counseling students both academically and professionally. The curriculum is crafted by certified Project Management Professionals to ensure that students receive the “solid foundation for project management work” they need in order to advance in their careers. The final Capstone Project consists of an e-Portfolio that students create to showcase “the skills and abilities developed throughout their educational experience.” As one of the pioneers of distance learning, ERAU also actively assists students in their career search through the free online service “EagelHire.” This resource allows students and alum to send resumes directly to potential employers through the database system. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#11. Penn State University
A donation of 200 acres in 1851 allowed for the charter of an institution of higher education with the goal of providing agrarian education coupled with science and mechanics to the farmers of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) was originally called the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania, and the school’s first president, Evan Pugh, successfully lobbied with other advocates in the state to the federal government for the passage of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862. This secured Penn State’s spot as the only land-grant university in the state, and it is also a space-, sun-, and sea-grant institution. The University Park campus serves as both the main campus and flagship of the 24-campus Penn State, and a strong online presence is called Penn State World Campus. A public, research-intensive university, Penn State has nearly 50,000 students enrolled at the University Park campus alone, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Penn State World Campus provides, along with the Penn State Erie Black School of Business, an interdisciplinary online Master of Project Management degree program that is guided by the PMBOK® principles as well as the APM, which is the European equivalent. Accredited by AACSB, the 30-credit hour program “uses problem-based learning to provide a thorough understanding of all aspects of project-management theory and practice.” Penn State is a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P), so students can work toward their certification in a program that takes two years to complete. Core classes include topical subjects such as “Interpersonal and Group Behavior” and “Strategy: Corporate, Business, and Project,” and students can choose from electives like “Engineering Product Innovation” and “Enterprise Modeling.” The “career-focused curriculum” is overseen by prominent project management intellectual Dr. Jeffrey K. Pinto and promises to provide students with the “knowledge and skill sets in managing large, complex projects” that they need in order to promote their professional lives.
#12. Georgetown University
The oldest specifically Jesuit Catholic institution of higher education in America, Georgetown University began in 1789 when John Carroll (who would go on to be appointed Archbishop of Baltimore nearly two decades later) purchased 60 acres to found Georgetown College. Located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the first year of classes was held in 1792 and had a student enrollment of 40. Now this private metropolitan research university enrolls 18,525 graduate and undergraduate students in the nine schools across five locations and online. Classified with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, Georgetown considers itself to be a “student-centered research university” with a mission to educate “women and men to be reflective lifelong learners, to be responsible and active participants in civic life, and to live generously in service to others.” As such there are many student-led organizations, activism activities, and media opportunities. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: Through Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies, an exceptional Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Project Management degree program is available completely online. A diverse student body participates in this 30-credit hour program through “focused coursework and practical, hands-on experience.” The online program is identical to the on-campus format and offers the same resources and rigorous coursework in topics such as “Communication & Collaboration for Managers” and “Project Initiation & Development.” The added benefit for online students is the asynchronous online format–giving them the ability to watch lectures and engage in academic requirements conveniently on their own time. Students who desire to pursue PMP certification will gain “the skills and tools required for coordinated management of one or more projects in accordance with industry standard guidelines, methodologies, and expectations.” For potential applicants, Georgetown offers webinars and information sessions to walk prospective students through the program, the application process, and requirements for graduation.
#13. Missouri State University
Begun as the Fourth District Normal School in 1905, Missouri State University (Missouri State) had a positive start with 543 students in attendance in the first year of classes. All the students were there to be trained as teachers for the southwest region of the state. Although classes started at the Springfield, Missouri institution with many students in 1906, the first on-campus building—Academic Hall (now known as Carrington Hall)—would not be completed until 1909. The school became Missouri State in 2005, and more than 26,000 students now study both on-campus and online at this public, space-grant designated university. Over 200 academic degree programs are offered through the nine schools and colleges on the 225-acre main campus, and Missouri State has a vision of developing “successful students who excel academically and in ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement.” Missouri State University has been granted continuous regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.
Program Details: Individuals who desire a STEM-centered (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) approach to project management can find their fit in Missouri State’s Master of Science in Project Management. Offered online through the Department of Technology and Construction Management, this interdisciplinary degree curriculum is built upon the standards and guidelines of the PMBOK®. Requiring 33-credit hours, students take classes in core topics such “Project Control Systems,” “Cost Analysis for Project Management,” and “Management of Innovation and Technology.” Electives reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the program and cover subjects like “Readings in Technology Management” and “Statistical Quality Control and Design of Experiments.” Students can choose between a thesis or a seminar project to complete the degree, but are provided with many resources to help them succeed. Additionally, resources extend for the Project Management student to learn how to pursue and achieve PMI PMP certification. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#14. Bellevue University
In 1965, Bellevue College was the brainchild of members of the Bellevue, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. The following year, the school was established with a mission to purposefully engage “students in earning awards and degrees that prepare them to thrive in a connected, competitive world.” More than 75% of student enrollment is adults over the age of 25, so Bellevue has found its purpose as an institution of higher education for the non-traditional age, working adult student. Bellevue University since 1994, Bellevue is the fourth largest private institution in Nebraska with almost 13,000 currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Catering to the working adult, Bellevue offers classes both on-campus and online, and has many accelerated program options. With an alumni network of over 50,000 students, Bellevue continues to grow. A non-profit university, Bellevue is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program at Bellevue is taught by PMP-certified instructors who are also industry practitioners. Not only can professors offer rigorous coursework to train and prepare students for a career advancement, but also they can offer guidance and career advisement. Students can complete the program entirely online and through it “learn how to use scholarly research, data collection, and other academic methods to achieve the highest level of mastery.” The 36-credit hour curriculum is aligned with the principles in the PMBOK® and offers such classes as “Organizational Structures and Practices,” “Cost Control in Projects,” and “Schedule Management.” Bellevue promises that graduates of the MPM program will gain an “extensive network and a life changing experience.” In addition, students gain the ability to share their “project management skills across disciplines in today’s competitive global and virtual environments,” thereby making them incredibly attractive to hiring professionals. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#15. Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University (CTU) was created in 1965 and designed to offer education and assistance to military personnel as they returned to school and civilian life. Colonel Richard Davis and Major Robert Turkisher were the founders of this for-profit university located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Now primarily offering programs online, the school was originally called the Colorado Electronic Training Center and offered classes in a former roller-skating rink. An alumni network of over 70,000 graduates are joined by nearly 30,000 currently enrolled students. CTU gained university status in 1995 and houses six colleges in addition to the Virtual Campus. A hallmark of CTU is the trademarked learning system called Intellipath™, which tailors the programs to individual students’ learning styles. CTU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Offered entirely online, the Master of Science in Management degree with a concentration in Project Management provides students with “tangible skills in project design, scheduling, team-building and creative problem-solving” through this 48-credit hour program. As an Educational Provider Program (PMI R.E.P.), the CTU program provides relevant core courses in subjects like “Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments,” “Database Analysis, Design and Implementation,” and “Schedule and Cost Control Techniques.” Students who would like a more business-oriented degree could choose the CTU ACBSP accredited online MBA, which also offers a concentration in Project Management. Also 48-credit hours, courses include “Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making,” “Applied Managerial Finance,” and “Strategic Human Capital Management.” Multiple start dates a year allow students to begin the program when they need to, and the long list of career development resources assures prospective students that CTU is actively involved in making sure students succeed in their online programs. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#16. University of Wisconsin—Platteville
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UW-Platteville) had its roots in two separate specialized schools: the Platteville Normal School and the Wisconsin Mining Trade School. Platteville Normal School opened in 1866 to train teachers for the area, and Wisconsin Mining Trade School opened just over 40 years later to teach the mining trade. They were both located in the downtown area of Platteville, Wisconsin and eventually merged to form the Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology at Platteville in 1959. When the University of Wisconsin System took control of state universities in 1971, the school’s name was changed to its current moniker: UW-Platteville. Main campus covers over 800 acres and encompasses a 400-acre research farm. Three colleges offer more than 120 academic degree programs for nearly 8,700 currently enrolled students. UW-Platteville is a public university completely without city streets cutting through the campus, and it is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Providing a wealth of online Project Management Resources is just the beginning of the benefits of pursuing a 100% online Master of Science in Project Management degree from UW-Platteville. The 30 to 36-credit hour curriculum is aligned with the PMBOK® and each course allots 45 PDUs. Students start with foundational courses (if needed) and then take required core courses. An academic advisor is assigned to each student and can help students choose the best electives to customize their degree. This advisement is helpful–UW-Platteville offers an array of project management electives–ranging from topics such as “Consumer Behavior” to “Taguchi Method of Designing Experiments” to “International Supply Chain Management” to “Business Ethics.” And for students who have already earned their PMP credentials, UW-Platteville allows that experience to count towards their degree. Full-time students can expect to finish the degree within two years, and part-time students are allowed up to seven years to complete it. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#17. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Established to train teachers as the Whitewater Normal School in 1868, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Coeducational from the beginning, the school underwent several changes and became part of the Wisconsin State College system in 1971—which is when the school officially became UW-Whitewater. Sitting on about 400 acres in the southeastern area of the state, UW-Whitewater provides more than 70 academic degree programs to more than 12,000 currently enrolled students. Over 170 student clubs and organizations offer social and educational activities to the students, and around 1,400 staff and faculty are employed at the school. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, UW-Whitewater “is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives . . . by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.”
Program Details: Through the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, an AACSB accredited Online MBA Emphasis in Project Management is available that is “developed by local project management experts” and led by professors who “have professional project management experience, PMP® certification, and demonstrated success.” The PMBOK® aligned courses include subjects like “Quality Issues in Operations,” “Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, and “Global Project Management.” All coursework in the Project Management Emphasis area of this 36-credit hour program work towards initial achievement or maintenance of PMI credentials. As an MBA degree, students can be confident they are receiving a quality online education through UW-Whitewater’s MBA Assurance of Learning. This assurance covers important learning objectives in the curriculum and the professional business traits to which they lead, such as ethical behavior, innovation and critical thinking. In addition, prospective students are invited to attend information sessions periodically led by Online Degree Coordinators to better understand the program.
#18. Regis University
One of only 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Regis University was originally called Las Vegas College. Opened by members of the Society of Jesus in 1877, the first location for the school was Las Vegas, New Mexico. When the school moved to Morrison, Colorado in 1884 it was renamed College of the Sacred Heart, but this location was short-lived. In 1887 the school moved to Denver, and after several decades was renamed after Jesuit saint John Francis Regis. By 1991 the school gained university status, and now serves more than 11,000 coeducational students. A private Catholic institution in the tradition of the brothers of the Society of Jesus, Regis desires to educate “men and women of all ages and faiths to take leadership roles and to make a positive impact in a changing society.” The Higher Learning Commission provides full regional accreditation to Regis University.
Program Details: Designated as a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), Regis University’s College of Business and Economics (CBE) offers an “intensive, accelerated and integrated learning experience” through their MS in Project Leadership and Management degree program. Offered online, 30-credit hours are required with courses such as “Delivering Organization Excellence,” “Leading Change and Innovation,” and “Business Intelligence and Analytics” followed by a final Capstone course on “Leading Responsible Organizations.” Evident in the mission of the CBE to cultivate “leaders of integrity who think critically, communicate clearly and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges” is the three distinguished CBE centers focused on “innovation, sustainability and workforce development,” which provides students with opportunities and guidance that makes them better professionals, as well as highly attractive to employers. Online students are also fully supported through Regis’ WorldClass Info, which is a portal to services, resources, logistics, and online learning orientation opportunities. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#19. George Washington University
Inspired by the wishes of George Washington and begun in 1819 by a collection of Baptist ministers, George Washington University (GW) was originally named Columbian College. The ministers purchased land in the United States Capital and successfully petitioned Congress to establish the school in 1821. The first graduating class consisted of three male students (Mabel Nelson Thurston would be the first admitted female student in 1888). This first class of only three, which graduated in 1824, is a far cry from the over 25,000 currently enrolled students. The George Washington University (as it was renamed in 1904 by an Act of Congress) is spread out over three campuses—two in the District of Columbia and one in Ashburn, Virginia. Fourteen schools and colleges are housed within this prestigious, private research institution and offer over 70 academic degree programs to undergraduate and graduate students. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools regionally accredits GW.
Program Details: The AACSB accredited GW School of Business Online Master of Science in Project Management (OMSPM) is one of the most established degree programs of its kind, having been offered since 1996. The 36-credit hour curriculum “goes beyond the PMBOK®” and can be completed in eighteen months to two years when taken full time. Students begin with an on-campus orientation, and then progress through the online coursework sequentially, completing the program with a week-long residency. Classes include challenging topics like “Statistics for Managers,” “Cost Estimation & Control,” and “Directed Computational Project Management,” and are delivered in a variety of ways through GW’s “innovative distance-learning” formats. Instructors have “industry experience in astrophysics, engineering, IT, construction, and more” to deliver the most cutting-edge and relevant education, and all OMSPM students are given access to all of the services and resources provided by the F. David Fowler Career Center, the GW School of Business exclusively business-dedicated career center.
#20. College of St. Scholastica
In 1892, 28 Benedictine nuns led by Mother Scholastica Kerst were tasked with starting a convent and an academy called the Sacred Heart Institute in Duluth, Minnesota. The two institutions coexisted, and as Duluth grew the school grew to serve the needs of the community. First expanding to a junior college and changing its name to The College of St. Scholastica in 1912, the school has grown from offering just 52 courses to the six students who were enrolled that year to now over 4,000 students studying in one of several campuses throughout Minnesota, one in Arizona, or in the online programs. A private, coeducational college with strong ties to the Catholic Church, St. Scholastica’s main campus in Duluth encompasses 186 acres on the shores of Lake Superior. The College still lives in harmony with the Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery and the Benedictine Living Community of Duluth. Regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Students of the St. Scholastica’s online Master of Science in Project Management degree program can be assured they are reaching their professional goals through this Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) program. Providing faculty who possess “advanced degrees, PMP certification and professional work experience” means a relevant, preparatory educational experience. Offered through the School of Business and Technology, the online MS degree requires 37 credits through which students participate together as a cohort (those who have already achieved their PMP credentials can bypass two of the required courses). All online students have access to the same on-campus student services and resources, including Career Services. A meaningful degree program, St. Scholastica produces graduate who are “developed to embody the values of the school and demonstrate ethical decision making, social responsibility, global awareness, and professional excellence.” Additionally, these values translate into marketable skills that employers desire. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#21. Saint Leo University
Claiming distinction as one of the five largest Catholic colleges or universities in the United States, Saint Leo University began as St. Leo’s College in 1889, making it the oldest Roman Catholic institution of higher education in Florida. Classes started in 1890 for seven students, but by the end of the first year enrollment grew to 32. Another distinction of the school was its progressiveness in admitting a black student from Cuba named Rudolph Antorcha in 1898—well before it was legal to integrate schools in the South. Becoming Saint Leo University in 1999, this private, coeducational liberal arts institution enrolls over 16,000 students at the main campus in St. Leo, Florida, online, and at multiple education centers. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides full regional accreditation to Saint Leo.
Program Details: Offering an Monitoring, Controlling and Closing Projects,” “Human Resource in Management,” and “Managerial Economics,” and the program is finalized with “Applied Project Management Case,” a Capstone course in which students utilize the “project management skills and abilities acquired in their previous courses to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control, and close a successful project.” Saint Leo’s promises online student support through every step of the academic journey; from
#22. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Originally an academy and junior college for boys, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota was established as Saint Mary’s College in 1912 in Winona, Minnesota. Started by Bishop Patrick R. Heffron, it was run by the Diocese of Winona. By 1925 the school was approved to award four-year degrees as a liberal arts college, and less than a decade later the school was purchased by the De La Salle Christian Brothers—a Catholic religious order known for their dedication to teaching. It remained a school for males-only until 1969, and now nearly 6,000 coeducational students are enrolled at this Roman Catholic-affiliated school. This private university still has its main campus in Winona but is joined by online programs and satellite campuses across Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as in Jamaica and Kenya. The name of the school became Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 1995, and the Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation.
Program Details: Aligned with the PMBOK® standards, Saint Mary’s online Master of Science in Project Management degree program specifically prepares students to become PMPs by giving them the skills to successfully “define, implement, evaluate, and lead initiatives from conception to completion.” Requiring 36-credit hours (some classes are waived for students who already possess PMP certification) and taking 24 months to complete, the curriculum is rich with both managerial and project management classes such as “Planning and Estimating,” “Product Integration and Quality,” and “Managerial Ethics and Issues.” A final Capstone project gives students the opportunity to show their “ability to critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate the theories and application of project management” from start to finish. Also from start to finish, online student support provides guidance and assistance every step of the way. As an added bonus, all incoming online students receive a fully-equipped iPad to make sure that “every student enjoys the same high-tech, high-quality learning experience.” Accredited by PMI-GAC
#23. University of Maryland University College
Established as a satellite of the College of Education from University of Maryland (UM), University of Maryland University College (UMUC) began in 1947 as a way to provide educational opportunities to non-traditional students and working adults. Originally called the College of Special and Continuation Studies, UMUC was one of multiple UM extension programs across Maryland. The College grew to the point that it made sense for it to become its own independent institution in 1970—prior to that the name was chosen to both maintain the connection to the University of Maryland System and to signify that classes would be offered in non-traditional settings outside of a physical classroom (a British tradition known as “University College”). With headquarters and some classroom-based classes in Adelphi, Maryland, a major enrollment of UMUC’s 80,000 students is in the online programs they offer. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education grants regional accreditation to UMUC.
Program Details: UMUC offers both a Master of Science in Information Technology with a Project Management specialization and a Master of Science in Management degree with a specialization in Project Management. Both programs are guided by a curriculum “designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars” and aligned with the PMI academic standards. The programs both require 36-credit hours, which students can access entirely online. The MS in Management core offers classes such as “Statistics for Managerial Decision Making” and “Project Procurement Management,” and students finish the program with a Strategic Management Capstone course. The MS in IT degree presents classes like “Computer Systems Architecture,” “Quantitative Methods in Project Management,” and “Information Systems Infrastructure.” In addition, students earn education hours through both programs to sit for the PMP certification exam. A robust Career Services is available to all online students, alum, and even prospective students. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#24. University of Maryland
The University of Maryland (UMD) was chartered as the Maryland Agricultural College (MAC) in 1856 in what is now College Park, Maryland. Two years after the charter, 428 acres of farmland was secured for the campus, and a year after that classes began. A class of 34 male students were the first to study at the school, which soon became a land-grant institution when funding through the Federal Morrill Act of 1862 was procured by the Maryland legislature. The school didn’t fare well during the Civil War years but was able to be revived when the state took part ownership in 1866. By 1916, the school became a coeducational, fully-public university, and by 1920 the name was changed to UMD. Now the flagship university in the University System of Maryland and also a space- and sea-grant school, nearly 40,000 students are enrolled in the more than 220 academic degree programs. UMD is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The A. James Clark School of Engineering at UMD provides a unique Master of Engineering (MEng) in Project Management degree program—the first such program in an engineering school to be PMI accredited. Empowering “students to put high-demand project management methods into everyday practice,” the 30-credit hour program can be completed online. Core coursework classes are offered through the Project Management Center for Excellence and include subjects such as “Legal Aspects of Engineering Design & Construction” and “Project Risk Management.” Elective choices are varied and vast, covering topics like “The Project Management Office: Execution Across Boundaries,” “Evolving as a Project Leader,” and “Cost Engineering and Control.” In addition to the expected array of online student resources, UMD provides Distance Education and Technology Services specifically for enabling engineering and project management online students to access their classes from anywhere at any time. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#25. Missouri University of Science & Technology
Established in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Missouri University of Science and Technology (“Missouri S&T”) claims distinction as one of the very first institutions devoted to technology that was founded west of the Mississippi River. Located in Rolla, Missouri, the school was founded as a land-grant institution to gain funds made available by the Morrill Act of 1862. Classes started in 1871, and 28 students were the first to enroll in the school. Now nearly 9,000 students are enrolled in this public coeducational university. Missouri S&T offers just under 100 academic degree programs, but also provides all students with the opportunity to study within one of four “Signature Research Areas”—Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, Enabling Materials for Extreme Environments, and Smart Living. A space-grant school as well as land-grant, Missouri S&T is a member of the University of Missouri System and achieves regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Engineering Management offered via Distance Education through the Missouri S&T Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering is one of only several programs certified by the American Society of Engineering Management. The core curriculum is part of the required 30-credit hours, and covers topics such as “Operations Management Science” and “Management for Engineers and Scientists.” Providing Project Management as a Graduate Certificate or an emphasis area in the MS degree, students engage in specialized courses such as “Global Project Management” and “Economic Decision Analysis.” Students can choose a thesis or a non-thesis option, but all applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree in engineering, applied mathematics, computer science or a physical science. This online MS, with its grounding in engineering and emphasis on project management, makes students capable of leadership by “balancing engineering preparation with a complementary education in business and management methods.”
#26. University of Denver
Located in the Rocky Mountain region in Denver, Colorado, the University of Denver (DU) began as the Colorado Seminary. A Methodist school, it opened in 1864 as a way to help civilize and calm the area. Denver had only been a city for six years and was still a mining camp at that point, and the area was very much influenced by the “wild west” culture. In 1880 the school moved to an old potato farm outside of the downtown area, and the name was officially changed to University of Denver (interestingly, the name is still listed on the school’s W-9 form as “Colorado Seminary”). Campus, which is now more than 125 acres and declared an arboretum, is host to many historic buildings. Approximately 12,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 300 academic degree programs in the ten schools and colleges. A private research university, DU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Through University College, DU’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies, students can pursue a Master of Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Project Management completely online. Providing “research, project-based learning, and cooperative study,” the 48-credit hour curriculum is aligned with the PMBOK® and includes innovative classes such as “Building the 21st Century Organization,” “Project Contracts & Procurement,” and “Graduate Social Research Methods” in order to prepare students for the PMP certification exam. To complete the program, students can opt between a Capstone Project, a focused Capstone Seminar, or an Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar. As part of the University College, students gain the benefit of learning from practitioner educators who know the industry and can provide real-world experiences to their online students. In addition, a network of career centers are available to specific university departments, schools, and groups of students to provide individualized and appropriate career services and resources based on student’s areas of focus.
#27. Norwich University
Norwich University had its beginning as the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy in Norwich, Vermont in 1819. It was started by former West Point Academy Instructor and Superintendent Captain Alden Partridge in order to create an education system that would meld military science and civil engineering with a liberal arts curriculum. Partridge termed it an American System of Education, and it would also serve as the beginnings of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. The school transferred to the state of Connecticut briefly before returning to Vermont and settling in Northfield. Known as “The Military College of the State of Vermont,” Norwich is the oldest private military college in the nation and serves nearly 3,500 coeducational students. Over 50 academic degree programs are offered through the five schools and colleges, and regional accreditation is provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Offering an ACBSP-accredited online MBA degree with a PMI-GAC accredited Project Management concentration, Norwich provides a 36-credit hour program that culminates in an on-campus residency. The concentration is made up of three six-credit hour courses covering strategic management, techniques and tools, and leadership skills. Additionally, students are required to complete an independent research project (IRP) in which they “identify a corporate partner to focus on in a case study and with whom to practice the skills gained in the project management concentration courses.” Students can choose their current employer in order to make the project entirely seamless and pertinent to their career. Support is provided for students as they begin their IRP, but also throughout their time at Norwich as part of the “Norwich Impact.” The impact means students have access to all-encompassing support through such resources as technical assistance, academic guidance, and an active community of fellow students, faculty and staff, and graduates. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#28. Lehigh University
Asa Packer—businessman, railroad entrepreneur, politician, devout Christian and Yankee conservative—provided the land and funding to found Lehigh University as a way to provide a moral and intellectual influence on the young men in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. He donated $500,000 (the largest individual endowment gift of its kind at that time) and 57 acres in 1865, and classes would begin for 39 male students just a few years later. The school became coeducational in the early 1970s, and now this private research university enrolls just over 7,000 students. Four colleges (the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education) inhabit the 2,350-acre campus located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Lehigh University’s AACSB accredited College of Business & Economics offers a part-time Flex MBA program with a concentration in Project Management that ” challenges its students to think in unaccustomed ways.” As a flex program, students can opt to take classes for the 36-credit hour program on-campus or online–the Project Management concentration does require that students participate in several on-campus residencies. The MBA core courses comprise 21 of the required credits; the remaining credits are devoted to the concentration and electives and cover topics like “Project Requirements and Scope Management,” “Advanced Scheduling and Scheduling Tools,” and “Managing Projects for Innovation.” A bonus is the Professional Development Program, which “integrates a set of complementary resources and activities such as: opportunities for self-assessment, career management tools, skill building, and active involvement” in the business community. This program is in addition to the Lehigh Career Center, which provides all the necessary resources for online professional students.
#29. Grantham University
Grantham University was established in 1951 in Los Angeles, California as a private, brick-and-mortar institution known as the Grantham Radio Licensing School. Additional locations sprung up across the United States, and by 1961 the school was officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. As the programming expanded, the name changed several times before becoming Grantham University. Now operating solely online, four colleges (the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Mark Skousen School of Business, the College of Nursing and Allied Health, and the College of Arts and Sciences) provide over 50 academic degree and certificate programs. With headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas, Grantham is a for-profit institution educating over 17,000 students worldwide. Grantham University has been nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) continually since 1961.
Program Details: The Grantham University IACBE-accredited MBA in Project Management degree program can be completed entirely online in just two years. Requiring 37-credit hours, the program is approved as a Registered Educational Provider (R.E.P.) and offers start dates every month for student convenience and flexibility. The curriculum is guided by the principles of the PMBOK® and covers business subjects in required classes such as “Finance,” “Accounting,” and “Business Ethics.” There is also coursework focused on the managerial element of the degree, such as management classes in “Project Management Essentials,” “Organizational Behavior,” and “Project Management Integration Framework.” As an institution that operates all of its academic programs exclusively online, Grantham offers a great deal of support to their online students, providing such opportunities as Career Booster webinars, Military-to-Civilian transition assistance, a Teaching & Learning Center, and other unique resources to assure a smooth and successful academic experience that transition to a fulfilling professional career.
#30. Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University (MSU) was established in 1878 originally as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi. A land-grant college located in Starkville, Mississippi, the first students began attending classes in 1880. Main campus covers 4,200 acres partially in the town of Starkville and also in an unincorporated area in Oktibbeha County, as well as more than 2,000 more acres of research facilities and farms. Other campus sites are located in Meridian, Biloxi and Vicksburg, Mississippi. The official name of the school was changed in 1958 to become Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, but it is more commonly known as Mississippi State. Over 20,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 175 academic degree programs, and this public research university is also a space- and a sea-grant institution. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: The Distance MBA degree with a concentration in Project Management at MSU is offered through the AACSB accredited College of Business as an interdisciplinary program. The 36-credit hour program is “quality-driven and offers the accessibility needed by working professionals.” Core MBA classes compose 27 of the credits required, and the remaining hours are made up of subjects such as “Enterprise Systems Engineering,” “Industrial Quality Control,” and “Process Improvement Engineering.” The Project Management concentration curriculum focuses on Industrial Engineering coursework designed to help “engineering students and others in technical fields move easily into a managerial role.” Students new to the program are invited to participate in a free online resource to jump-start their career called Experience MBA +. Beginning with an online orientation, students can engage in multiple online module offerings to enhance their professionalism that include topics like students services, presentation tips and techniques, and career resources.
#31. Avila University
When the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet religious order arrived from France in Missouri in 1836, their tenacity would eventually lead to the creation Avila University, a private Catholic institution in Kansas City, Missouri. Initially a two-year school for women known as St. Teresa’s Academy, the school became a full four-year, degree-granting institution in 1940, residential in 1965, and coeducational in 1969. The name was changed several times through the years but has always been in honor of St. Teresa of Avila. With the guiding principle that “helping students reach their full potential with one-on-one attention, high-quality academics, interdisciplinary classes and co-curricular activities . . . fosters tomorrow’s inspirational learners and leaders,” Avila offers around 60 academic degree programs through the seven schools and colleges to inspire the nearly 1,700 currently enrolled students. Regional accreditation is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Avila University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Management with a Project Management emphasis allows currently certified PMPs to take advantage of their credentials by reducing the required credit hours from 37 to 24. The classes are delivered in eight-week terms and can be completed entirely online. With a faculty that are “proven professionals who are well versed in the latest project management tools, trends, and practices,” Management core courses cover topics like “Statistics & Assessment,” “Financial Decision Making for Managers,” and “Organizational Psych & Behavior,” while the Project Management emphasis courses cover the basics through classes such as “Practice of Project Management” and “Management Technology.” Just one of several IACBE-accredited Management degree options at Avila, the MA in Project Management degree with an emphasis in Project Management is part of the Avila Advantage–offering accessible, flexible and affordable degree programs that can help individuals “unlock opportunities” and advance in their careers.
#32. Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University (SHSU) can trace its beginnings to a lone building relic of the now elsewhere Austin College. The College was established in Huntsville, Texas in 1851. A dedication for the famed Austin Hall included many important Texas icons—but most importantly Texas politician Sam Houston was in attendance. After the school moved, Austin Hall remained and was purchased by locals in 1879 to serve as a teacher training institution. Originally Sam Houston Normal Institute, the school became SHSU in 1969. The third oldest public institution of higher education in Texas, SHSU is a member of the Texas State University System and offers more than 150 academic degree programs to over 20,000 currently enrolled students. A Doctoral Research University (as classified by the Carnegie Foundation), SHSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: SHSU Online provides a Master of Science in Project Management (PMGT) degree program through the Department of Management and Marketing in the AACSB accredited College of Business. The 36-credit hour curriculum prepares students to pursue their PMP credentials by sitting for the PMI certification exam. Coursework is “targeted toward professionals engaged in managing the project life cycle in organizations and industries” and include classes such as “Staffing Organizations,” “Operations Planning and Control,” and “Management Of Innovation & Technology.” Specific online student resources are available through Career Services, and online students are welcome to participate in any of the services that are offered. SHSU Online is dedicated to providing the highest quality online programs through its devotion to four specific units (Online Operations, Creative Services, Continuing Education, and the Office of 60X30 Online Initiatives) to improve upon and promise a smooth online experience for students.
#33. Southern New Hampshire University
Established originally as a business school by husband and wife Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) began in 1932 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Known at that time as the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science and a for-profit school, SNHU would transition in scope and name over the years before becoming a non-profit school in 1968. Now located on 300 acres on the border of Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire, SNHU has six schools and colleges to offer programs to the 80,000 students currently enrolled. Online programs are the strong suit of SNHU—only about 5,000 students study on-campus and 75,000 are enrolled online. Continuing to grow, SNHU is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university with regional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: A Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) for PMI, SNHU’s online Master of Science in Operations and Project Management is ACBSP accredited and helps students meet the education credits requirement to sit for the PMP exam. The 36-credit hour interdisciplinary program can be completed in as little as fifteen months, and the “technology-integrated coursework is continually adjusted to reflect the latest topics, technology and tactics in the field” for an incredibly cutting-edge degree. Required core classes include “Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making” and a “Seminar in Project Management” as well as an “Operations and Project Management Capstone.” A collection of elective options include classes in “Management Science Through Spreadsheets,” “Human Behavior in Organizations,” and “Project Management for PMP Certification,” just to name a few. Student testimonials have high praise for the MS in Operations and Project Management professors, who “not only made the classes challenging, but relevant to . . . responsibilities at work.”
#34. Purdue University
In 1865, the Indiana General Assembly voted to procure funding that became available to states through the Morrill Act of 1862. “Indiana’s Land-Grant University” was established in Tippecanoe County due to the local support and major donations from resident John Purdue, a wealthy businessman who added $150,000 of his own money to the $50,000 supplied by the County. Purdue asked that the school be named in his honor, and Purdue University was born. Three instructors and 39 male students began class in 1871—women would be admitted four years later. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue provided a liberal arts education heavily influenced by the land-grant designation—industrial arts were very much a part of the early curriculum. Now more than 40,000 students are currently enrolled at this public research university, and it serves as the flagship of the Purdue University System. Regional accreditation is granted by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The Purdue Polytechnic Professional Programs’ fully online MS in Information Technology (IT) with a Project Management concentration is offered as a degree program through both the Center for Professional Studies and the Department of Computer and Information Technology. Requiring only 30-credit hours for students in possession of PMP certification (34-credit hours for those without the credentials. A one-credit hour Project Management Professional Certification Prep course is available to assist students prepare for the exam), the PMBOK® informed curriculum includes topics like “Interpersonal & Group Skills for Leaders,” “IT Economics & Procurement Management,” and “IT Policy, Law & Ethics.” Students can finish the degree in as little as eleven months but have up to five years to work at their own pace. A list of specific MS in IT Project Management resources is available for online students to access support or direction unique to IT and Project Management needs.
#35. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
With the need for more educational focus in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math to lead to STEM-based careers in the capital city of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology was established there in 2001. The first class of 113 students began studying in 2005 when the school opened, and now more than 5,700 students are currently enrolled. Academic programs are offered both on-campus in Harrisburg and online in Analytics, Biotechnology, Computer and Information Science, Data Science, Geospatial Technology, Healthcare Informatics, Information Systems, Engineering and Management, Integrative Sciences, Interactive Media, Learning Technologies and Media Systems, Management and e-Business, and Project Management. Harrisburg University is a private coeducational institution and has been regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education since 2009.
Program Details: Harrisburg University is a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) and offers a 36-credit hour Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) degree program. Delivered in the “Executive Format,” which utilizes both online instruction and one weekend a month on-campus residencies, this hybrid program provides courses such as “Project Management Offices” and “Planning and Executing Projects.” An optional Agile Lean Concentration is available, offering courses like “Agile Lean Product Development” and “Agile Lean Transformational Leadership.” In addition, the MSPM program offers a “Project Management Professional/Certified Associate in Project Management Prep” course that is completely aligned with the PMBOK® guidelines and helps student prepare to successfully sit for the PMP certification exam. HU claims the goal of helping “students to obtain the relevant knowledge, competence, and experiences to best be prepared for an enriching career,” so online students can be assured that they will have access to the resources they need to be successful both as a student and as a professional upon graduation. Accredited by PMI-GAC
#36. University of Michigan–Dearborn
The Ford Motor Company gifted six million dollars and 200 acres in Dearborn, Michigan to the state in 1956 for the purpose of establishing a university—it would serve as one of two regional campuses of the University of Michigan, which is in Ann Arbor. Located within the urban sprawl of Detroit, the school would help provide college-educated engineers to the growing Ford motor car industry. The school was named University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM–Dearborn) and classes began in 1959. The 34 students who were first enrolled could choose from just three degree options at that time: Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration. Now over 100 academic degree programs are offered, and the engineering and management programs have grown to be some of the best in the nation. Almost 10,000 students are currently enrolled at this public university, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: UM-Dearborn’s ABET accredited College of Engineering and Computer Science provides an entirely online Master of Science in Program and Project Management through the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. With an emphasis on application, courses in the 30-credit hour program are “designed to provide graduates with a strong foundation to pursue certification.” Students can opt to complete the degree with a thesis but are required to take core courses such as “Managing Global Programs” and “Engineering Risk-Benefit Analysis.” Electives comprise nine-credits of the degree and include a selection of topics like “Software Engineering Management,” “Probability and Statistical Models,” and “Total Quality Management and Six Sigma.” Online project management students are supported through the College of Engineering and Computer Science Distance Learning Network, which provides specific resources and services to online students as part of their mission “to support lifelong learners by using the latest technologies to deliver quality graduate engineering and computer science programs anytime, anywhere.”
#37. University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
A rich culture and history permeates the location of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). In its earliest days as an institution, UCCS was the Cragmor Sanitarium. Opened in 1905 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it went through many changes before being sold to form a permanent satellite location for the University of Colorado (which is located in Boulder) in the mid-1960s. The Colorado Springs Center of the University of Colorado was the 1965 culmination of classes that had been offered in Colorado Springs by the University of Colorado since the 1920s. By 1972, UCCS became its own specific and individual campus, and in 1974 the University of Colorado System reorganized into four distinct campuses. Now over 12,000 students study in more than 70 academic degree programs on this 550-acre campus and online through the six colleges of UCCS. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, UCCS is a public coeducational university.
Program Details: Offering an online program “designed to meet the needs of students with or without previous business coursework,” UCCS’s MBA in Project Management is one of the eight specialization options provided. Through the AACSB accredited College of Business, the 36-credit hour program requires foundation courses like “Business, Government & Society” and “Fundamentals of Business Statistics” (which may be waived for students with prior business coursework), core courses such as “Leading & Managing in Changing Times” and “Operations: Competing Through Capabilities,” and electives chosen from a wide selection of class options. Specific Project Management classes include “Bridging Strategy & Tactics in Project Management,” “Managing Projects for Competitive Advantage,” and “Virtual Team Skills for Project Management.” In addition to a strong alumni network that is available to current business students, The College of Business Career Development Center is available to online MBA students as well as alumni to provide specific business-focused career guidance and resources.
#38. Drexel University
Drexel University was originally founded as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1891. Anthony Drexel was an entrepreneurial banker with a streak of altruism, and he desired to establish a coeducational school where he lived that would enlighten and train “each new generation of students for productive professional and civic lives while also focusing our collective expertise on solving society’s greatest problems.” The school did not get off the ground until 1919, but the cooperative educational spirit that was part of its foundation still remains—students are invited to take eighteen months to gain paid work experience in a field related to their major. Main campus is located in the Philadelphia neighborhood of University City, and Drexel serves as a private research university to almost 25,000 students with fifteen schools and colleges and more than 200 academic degree programs. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: A Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), Drexel University’s College of Engineering offers their MS in Project Management degree program entirely online “for mid-career professionals seeking to advance in a variety of fields.” And as a R.E.P., Drexel Online is approved to issue the professional development educational units necessary to achieve PMP credentials. The 45-credit hours required for graduation are meant to be taken on a part-time basis and are composed of core courses, electives, and a final Capstone Project. Students “use electives to increase project management, creativity, communication, or leadership skills or to develop areas of specialization,” and are free to take any elective the University offers if they can demonstrate their ability to take the course. Four start dates a year allow students to begin the program at their convenience, and a host of resources allows both prospective students and current students to access the guidance and support they need.
#39. Fayetteville State University
Two schools were established in the African-American communities in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1865—the Phillips and Sumner Schools. By 1867 the schools merged to form the Howard School. Seven local African-American businessmen had purchased land to form the school, and they would go on to be Howard School’s Board of Trustees. The school was successful, and a decade later the state of North Carolina transformed it into the first Southern state-sponsored institution to train black schoolteachers, officially renaming it the State Colored Normal School. This would become Fayetteville State University (FSU) by 1969, and as a distinguished historically-black public university it is a member of the University of North Carolina System. Almost 70 academic degree programs and nearly 80 student organizations are offered to the more than 6,000 currently enrolled students. Also a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, FSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The AACSB accredited School of Business and Economics at FSU offers a fully online MBA degree with a Project Management Specialization. Requiring 39-credit hours, students who do not have a business background may be required to take additional foundation courses. The MBA core covers topics such as “Leading Organizations,” “Business and Society,” and “Modern Marketing,” while the Project Management courses entail subjects like “Tools and Techniques of Project Management” and “Communication and Procurement in Project Management.” Students can take the classes in the traditional sixteen-week semester or in eight-week terms to complete the program more quickly. In addition, the FSU MBA is “designed to create a rewarding, professional experience . . . via dedicated faculty & staff and a suite of state-of-the-art technology,” and online student resources like a committed Career Services center are available to make sure a student’s academic journey and future career are successful and promising.
#40. Lasell College
Founded as the Auburndale Female Seminary in 1851 by Edward Lasell, a chemistry professor who had taken an interest in women’s education, Lasell College sits on about 50 acres in Newton, Massachusetts (specifically in the village of Auburndale). Changing a great deal through the years, the school has welcomed men since 1997, offered four-year degrees starting in 1989, and was renamed to honor the man who created the school. Now over 2,000 coeducational students engage in more than 50 academic degree programs in this school that is proud to “immerse students in experiential and collaborative learning that fosters lifelong intellectual exploration and social responsibility.” Promoting a “Connected Learning” philosophy, Lasell houses five academic schools that “gives students the chance to explore real issues, events, problems, and solutions inside the classroom and out.” Lasell College is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree program through the ACBSP accredited Lasell College Graduate and Professional Studies department presents a Project Management concentration option for students completely online, and can be completed in just one to two years. Requiring 36-credit hours, 21-credit hours of the program are devoted to core MSM coursework (with class topics like “21st Century Global Leadership” and “Strategic Information Management”). The remaining courses are comprised of three concentration classes (“Principles of Project Management,” “Business Strategy,” and “Change Management”), two chosen electives, and a Capstone Project. Students have the opportunity for a great deal of personal interaction with professors—all classes are capped at just 23 students, and faculty are dedicated professionals “who bring first-hand, real-world knowledge of management to the classroom.” Other supports are available for online students, including a Graduate Career Services office that makes all its resources obtainable whether on-campus or online.
#41. Liberty University
In the early 1970s, prominent evangelist and Baptist minister Jerry Falwell, wanted to create an institution of higher education that would “influence the moral and ethical course of America.” He and his congregation, the Thomas Road Baptist Church, would be instrumental in the development of Lynchburg Baptist College. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the school was established in 1971 and enrolled 154 students—who only had to pay a tuition of $200. By the mid-1980s, the school was renamed Liberty University (LU). A strong distance education program was also initiated in the 1980s and has grown to become one of the most popular offerings for students who cannot study on-campus on the Liberty Mountain. Over 100,000 students study online, joining the more than 15,000 residential students to make Liberty the largest Christian university in the world. Offering well over 600 academic degree programs, Liberty is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: For individuals who want to make “a bigger difference in their company, organization, or small business in the area of project management,” Liberty offers a fully online Master of Science in Project Management degree program. The 36-credit hour curriculum is both grounded in a “Christian Worldview” and counts towards professional development units required to sit for the PMI PMP certification exam. Through the School of Business, the MS degree program provides classes such as “Leading Organizational Change,” “Global Project Management,” and “Project Evaluation & Assessment.” A final Capstone project culminates the degree, which can be completed in about two years. In addition to fostering a supportive environment for online students through the Office of Online Student Life, Liberty honors current and former military men and women by offering many resources and services—from financial assistance to all-around support.
#42. University of North Alabama
As Alabama’s oldest institution of higher education offering four-year degrees, University of North Alabama (UNA) was founded in 1830. Originally LaGrange College, the school was located in the town of LaGrange, which was destroyed by Union soldiers during the Civil War. The school had moved to Florence in 1854 and was re-incorporated as Wesleyan University but underwent many changes through the years. Now UNA, the institution is located on 130 acres in Florence, Alabama within an area known as “the Shoals,” which also includes the cities Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, and Sheffield. Nearly 7,500 coeducational students are currently enrolled—giving the school the distinction of being one of the oldest coeducational institutions of higher education in the United States, having opened its doors to women in 1873. The University of North Alabama is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The University of North Alabama’s AACSB accredited College of Business provides their MBA degree program with a Project Management concentration completely online through Canvas, an easily-accessible online learning format. With a goal and mission “to prepare students to become successful professionals capable of leading organizations in a diverse, dynamic global economy,” the MBA program offers nine other concentration options in addition to project management. The MBA in Project Management degree requires 34-credit hours of relevant coursework that focus both on core MBA requirements as well as specific project management topics, with classes such as “Leadership and Team Building,” “Accounting Information for Strategic Decision Making,” and “Business Ethics and Responsibility in a Global Economy” required for all students. Led by experienced and knowledgeable faculty, the MBA program can be completed in as little as a year when pursued full-time, or up to two and a half years part-time.
#43. Brandeis University
In Boston, Massachusetts in 1948, the American Jewish community wanted to provide an institution of higher education that would welcome “talented faculty and students of all backgrounds and beliefs.” This was a time in which many schools were not nonsectarian and often excluded individuals based on their race, ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs. The name Brandeis University was chosen in honor of Louis D. Brandeis, the first Jewish justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The campus covers 235 acres in the Boston suburbs of Waltham, Massachusetts but maintains a global scope through online academic programs. In addition to its online presence, Brandeis offers more than 260 student organizations and clubs to the almost 6,000 enrolled students. In addition to the nearly 100 academic degree programs (both majors and minors) offered at Brandeis, as part of the Boston Consortium students can participate in classes at other Boston universities and colleges. This private, liberal arts institution is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: With a curriculum aligned with the PMBOK® guidelines, the completely online Master of Science in Project and Program Management (MSPPM) through Brandeis University Graduate Professional Studies is comprised of 30-credit hours. Four start dates a year enable students to begin at their convenience, and all students first enroll in the “Foundations of Project Management” course. Other required courses include “The Human Side of Project Leadership” and “Risk Management in Projects and Programs.” Elective choices (students select three) include topics like “Challenges in Project Management,” “Foundations of Data Science and Analytics,” and “Organizational Leadership and Decision Making.” Most students take two to three courses a semester, which are presented in “interactive, seminar style classes that explore the latest techniques and trends.” Brandeis is no stranger to online education, and the expertise is evident in the program quality and services that are provided for online students. From the very beginning of a prospective student’s journey, Enrollment Advisors are available to answer questions and provide guidance and information, and that level of support continues throughout the entire program.
#44. Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University started off as evening classes held by the YMCA during the California Gold Rush of the 1800s. The classes, offering timely and relevant classes such as learning English and assaying gold, were hugely successful—so much so that the YMCA Night School opened in San Francisco, California in 1881. Officially established in 1901, becoming a college independent of the YMCA in 1923, and then officially being renamed Golden Gate University (GGU) in 1972, this institution of higher education is one of the first in the nation to offer distance education programs through a web-based platform. Offering nearly 20 academic degree programs with multiple concentrations and specializing in business and law, GGU houses four schools to serve the over 5,000 enrolled students. Regionally accreditation for this private coeducational non-profit institution is granted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Program Details: Fulfilling the educational requirement for the PMP credential, GGU’s Master of Science in Project Management degree program closely follows the PMBOK® guidelines. Offered online through the Ageno School of Business and led by faculty who have extensive project management experience and have earned their PMP credentials, the program requires 36 academic units. Required coursework covers foundational subjects, core requirements, and electives. Classes include topics such as “Quality Management & Process Improvement,” “Project Administration, Leadership & Team Dynamics,” and “Contextual Environment of Business.” In addition to relevant classes and rigorous academics, GGU offers online students individualized attention and extensive resources—just as if they were on campus. The pride that GGU takes in continuing “to innovate, offering online courses, student communities, service tools, and demonstration courses” for its online students is evident in the accolades and gratitude expressed by former online students. For students who desire an MBA degree, GGU offers an MBA Project Management concentration as well.
#45. Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University (GCU) began in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, a not-for-profit school. Located initially at an abandoned armory building in Prescott, Arizona, Grand Canyon was started by the Southern Baptist Church to fulfill the need they saw for a faith-based institution of higher education for the people of Arizona. Moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1951, GCU has become one of the most pronounced Christian universities in the state. In 2004, Grand Canyon Education, Inc purchased the school and reorganized as a for-profit institution. Renewed interest in the last decade for a return to non-profit status led to the change back to its not-for-profit roots in 2018. Nine colleges offer over 200 academic degree programs at this coeducational research university, serving the nearly 20,000 residential students and more than 60,000 online students. Regional accreditation for Grand Canyon is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Colangelo College of Business at GCU offers an online MBA degree with an Emphasis in Project Management that is aligned with the PMBOK® Guide. An ACBSP accredited program, the MBA in Project Management “incorporates research-based strategies with business fundamentals” in order to best prepare graduates to successfully sit for the PMP certification exam. A comprehensive 54-credit hour curriculum covers topics like “Managerial Accounting,” “Applied Business Probability and Statistics,” “Leadership and Organizations,” and “Fundamentals of Project Management.” Courses are taught in eight-week terms, and students can transfer in up to twelve credits. As a school with a formidable online presence, students who engage in the online MBA are assured of an “intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions” with professors who are “equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields” to achieve the goal of producing “servant leaders with the business skills and values necessary to drive organizational success and positively impact society.”
#46. University of Mary
The University of Mary’s (UMary) precursor, Mary College, was established by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1959. Founded as a women’s college, the first enrolled class included 69 students who could study in programs in nursing or education. The school became coeducational in the 1960s and gained university status in 1986. The largest institution of higher education in Bismarck, UMary also has satellite programs in other North Dakota cities, Minnesota, Montana, Kansas, and Arizona, and international campuses in Rome and Peru. A private university in the Catholic Benedictine tradition, UMary enrolls over 3,300 students currently. More than 70 academic degree programs are now offered, and in 2017 the school was designated as a College of Distinction—the only university in North Dakota with that recognition. Regional accreditation for UMary has been granted by the Higher Learning Commission continuously since 1969.
Program Details: Offered as a fully online degree program, the Master of Arts in Project Management (MPM) through University of Mary’s IACBE accredited Gary Tharaldson School of Business is “modeled upon both long-established and cutting-edge industry practices in project evaluation, organization, and completion.” Students can finish the 33-credit hour degree online at an accelerated pace in only eighteen months, and classes cover topics like “Law in the Managerial Environment,” “Project Initiation,” and a Graduate Business Capstone project, which is developed over the course of the student’s time in the program and focused on the business area for which the student is passionate. A Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), UMary offers seven optional concentration areas within the MPM degree program, and they are all also available online. Concentrations add four courses to the requirements and range in focus from Energy Management to Healthcare Informatics to Virtuous Leadership—just to name a few.
#47. Brenau University
Brenau University is a private, liberal-arts university and was founded in 1878 in Gainesville, Georgia for the education of women. The institution was originally called the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary; however, it was not ever officially affiliated with the Baptists or any other religious denomination. In 1900 the school was renamed Brenau College, and by 1990 it was a university. Offering both on-campus and online programs, Brenau maintains its traditional roots as an institution of higher education for women through the Women’s College. Since 1972, other Georgia Brenau campus locations in Gainesville, Augusta, Norcross and Fairburn, and one in Jacksonville, Florida, are coeducational, and serve more than 3,500 enrolled students. With a mission of preparing students “for a lifetime of intellectual accomplishment and appreciation of artistic expression through a curriculum enriched by the liberal arts, scientific inquiry and global awareness,” Brenau is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: As a R.E.P., Brenau University provides an online MBA in Project Management degree program from the College of Business & Mass Communication and is authorized to issue professional development units. A 45-credit hour program, the course sequence is designed to prepare students for the PMP certification exam. Eight courses are devoted to the business administration core, and cover topics like “Cross-Cultural Business Challenges” and “Strategic Management & Policy.” The Project Management concentration requires five courses, with subjects such as “Leadership of Project Teams” and “Project Planning & Control Techniques.” Online studies and all necessary activities are provided through the Canvas online learning platform, and online students have access to a dedicated Online Student Center to meet all other needs they may encounter. The Online Student Center offers resources such as Career Services, but also assistance with registering for online classes and other technical needs.
#48. New England College
New England College (NEC) was created to assist with the burgeoning numbers of students produced by the G.I. Bill after World War II. Established in 1946 in Henniker, New Hampshire, the school’s campus sits on 225 acres throughout the town. Providing a strong liberal arts education to the nearly 2,800 students currently enrolled, NEC offers 50 academic degree programs and a “creative and supportive learning community that challenges individuals to transform themselves and their world.” All programs are organized into one of four divisions—the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Management, or the School of Natural & Social Sciences. Leaders in the fields of business and public policy are brought to the school for the New England College President’s Speaker Series to “engage in lively conversations with students, faculty, and the community. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: The online Master of Science in Management (MSM) in Project Management degree program at NEC’s School of Management is crafted for individuals engaged in a career with limited time. Courses for this comprehensive 36-credit hour program begin every seven weeks to allow for a multitude of start date possibilities. Designed to strengthen “knowledge and expertise in managing projects throughout the life-cycle while addressing management areas of ethics, transformational change, strategic communications, accounting and finance,” the MSM degree core coursework includes classes like “Organizational Management and Leadership” and “Strategic Planning and Policy,” while the Project Management concentration covers topics such as “Managerial Accounting and Finance for Leadership” and “Quality Analysis for Technology.” Offered completely online with no required on-campus residencies, many students finish the degree in under two years and are successful in sitting for the PMP certification exam and obtaining their PMI credentials upon graduation.
#49. Dallas Baptist University
Decatur Baptist College was the school that would grow to become Dallas Baptist University (DBU). Originally located in Decatur, Texas, the school was established in 1898 as a junior college—the first of its kind in the state. Moving to Dallas in 1965, DBU expanded into a full four-year university and opened its doors to 900 enrolled students that year. This Christian “liberal arts, global university, with a mission to produce servant leaders through the integration of faith and learning” serves over 5,100 students with more than 100 academic degree programs offered through the seven colleges at the main campus in Dallas, online, and at satellite campuses in Plano and Hurst. Small class size (11:1) encourages students to become “servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.” Dallas Baptist University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The MBA degree program through Dallas Baptist University’s Graduate School of Business offers a concentration in Project Management completely online. Requiring 36-credit hours, the MBA core curriculum covers subjects such as “Creative Problem Solving Marketing Decisions” and “Management Information Systems.” The Project Management concentration (one of thirteen online concentration options within the MBA degree program) makes up twelve of the required credits, and “includes advanced study and applications in the techniques and tools used to define, plan, organize, and manage projects.” The final required course, “Advanced Project Management Strategy and Simulation,” is a hands-on, practical class that applies all of the knowledge gained in the previous concentration classes. Students must take risks and make informed managerial decisions on their own to simulate a real project management experience. Online students are welcomed graciously from the beginning with information and resources to support them, and services are as accessible to the online student as they are to traditional on-campus students.
#50. Columbia Southern University
Founded in 1993 by Robert Mayes, Sr, Columbia Southern University (CSU) has a “student-first philosophy” that has been present since its inception. Catering to working adults and non-traditional students, CSU provides distance learning opportunities from administrative offices in Orange Beach, Alabama. Over 1000 faculty and staff members operate the three colleges (College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, and College of Safety & Emergency Services), which offer 26 degree programs and 21 certificate programs—all online. Approximately 30,000 students are enrolled at this for-profit institution, which claims as its vision “to change and improve lives through higher education by enabling students to maximize their professional and personal potential.” Along with sister school Waldorf University in Iowa, CSU is part of the Columbia Southern Education Group. CSU has maintained continuous national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) since it was first granted in 2001.
Program Details: Focusing on “relevant business concepts, application of business research skills, and job-related behaviors critical for success in today’s competitive environment,” the MBA with a concentration in Project Management is offered entirely online through CSU’s College of Business. As a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), CSU provides a 36-credit hour degree program that will “integrate strategies and theories aligned with organizational operations and business structures.” Relevant, required courses in the program include subjects such as “Strategic Management and Business Policy,” “Project Management Strategy and Tactics,” and “Managing Complex Projects.” Additionally, since CSU devotes its energies to online education, there are many student services to assure that a student’s academic journey is “convenient and productive.” A Success Center, Career Services, and the Academic Advising & Student Support Center are just some of the online student resources made available to support CSU students.