5 Best Masters in Project Management Programs in the U.S.

masters in project management
Patrick Findaro
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Published on 28 Jun 2023 Time to read 10 min read Last update on 23 Oct 2023

Obtaining a masters in project management can be very beneficial in today’s world. Professionals that have a strong project management skill set are not tied to a single position or industry. Instead, working in project management offers professionals the ability to use their knowledge and skills to work in almost any industry, especially that project management skills are in high demand. However, finding the right project management master’s degree can be daunting and challenging. That’s why we created a list with the 5 Best Masters in Project Management Programs in the U.S. For each program, we will discuss the costs, timeline, requisites and admissions, as well as the experience for international students.

Contents

New York University Master of Science in Project Management

The New York University Master of Science in Project Management is a STEM graduate degree and Project Management Institute (PMI) accredited program. The program offers students the flexibility of studying online or on-campus in one of the world’s most major cities, New York City. The goal of the program is to prepare students for project management roles in different industries – including healthcare, construction, technology, and engineering. Moreover, the program prepares the participating students for the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification Exam. The NYU Master of Science in Project Management program allows students to participate in a capstone project, that focuses on enterprise project management, which helps graduates become experts when managing and organizing enterprises’ resources.

Costs and Timeline

The New York University Master of Science in Project Management program allows students the option to participate in either full time or part time. The masters in project management degree consists of 36 credits that students need to complete before graduating. All admitted students are expected to complete 6 core courses, 5 specialization courses, and 1 capstone course with each course worth 3 credits. The base price for enrollment for full time students enrolled in 10-12 credits is $24,503 per semester. On the other hand, part time students enrolled in 6 credits is $14,858 per semester. Some scholarships offered at NYU masters program are merit or need-based. However, most grants that are offered to the students are based on each student’s circumstances. Also, students can take out federal or private loans for financial aid.

Requisites and Admissions

As part of the application process to the program, all students must submit their college or university transcripts, a statement of purpose, two recommendation letters, and a résumé. 

New York University Master of Science in Project Management for International students

Luckily for international students,  the program classifies as a STEM program according to the qualifications set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This means that completing this program allows international students to stay an extra 24 months to work legally in the United States via their Optional Practical Training (OPT). Also, international students must score an 80 or above on their TOEFL exam or an 8.0 or above on their IELTS exam to be considered for the program. Otherwise, students that don’t achieve these scores will need to take the Pearson Versant English Placement Test (VEPT) as well.

Northwestern University Master of Science in Project Management

The Northwestern University Master of Science in Project Management is a masters in project management program prepares students to thrive in project management positions across various industry sectors. After completing this program, graduates would be able to streamline design, construction, and operations of projects that they work on. The program is taught by practicing professionals who are going to bring their experience and real-world challenges from the field of project management to the classroom.

Costs and Timeline

Students enrolled in the Northwestern University’s masters in project management program can participate in the program by taking it full time or part-time. The full time program takes between 9 and 15 months to complete. Alternatively, the part-time program is designed for students that need to take evening classes because of an obligation that hinders them from taking daytime classes. The part-time program takes between 18 and 24 months to complete. 70% of admitted students tend to participate in the masters in project management program full time while the other 30% tend to take the program part time.

Tuition for students taking the program full time and taking 3 units is $21,550 while tuition for students taking the program part time is $5,388 per unit. For financial aid, students can get funding through scholarships or loans.

Requisites and Admissions

Applicants are expected to have undergraduate degrees in architecture or engineering, but applicants with quantitatively based degrees or relevant work experience would still be seriously considered for the program. All applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must provide either GRE or GMAT scores. In addition, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a résumé or a CV, and a personal statement. The personal statement must explain why the applicant believes that a masters in project management would be beneficial to their career goals and their future.

masters in project management

Northwestern University Master of Science in Project Management for International students

Northwestern University’s masters in project management program has a very diverse student body, with 60% of the students being international. Also, international students applying need a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 85 or a minimum IELTS score of 7 for admission.

University of Maryland Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a Major in Project Management

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a Major in Project Management program is designed for students that would want to pursue a doctoral degree in the future or want to study a specific subject in depth. Students can participate in the program by attending classes in-person or by taking the classes online. While being taught by faculty, the masters in project management program is also taught by experts in the industry. This experience that graduates receive from getting taught by industry experts gives them a competitive advantage in the project management field.

Costs and Timeline

To complete the masters in project management degree, students need to complete 10 courses or a minimum of 24 credits of coursework in addition to completing 6 credits of thesis research. The tuition for graduates attending the program in person is $1,086.53 per credit hour while taking three courses costs $10,383.77. On the other hand, the tuition for graduates attending the program online is $1,340.39 per credit hour while taking three courses costs $12,063.51. Unfortunately, the program doesn’t offer any fellowships or assistantships. However, Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering program has a limited number of positions available that students can work in to financially support acquiring their degree.

Requisites and Admissions

To apply to be part of the University of Maryland masters in project management program, applicants must have a GPA above a 3.0 and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, computer science, computer information systems or information technology. Other applicants that have a degree in a closely related technical field would still be considered if they have completed the following courses: Calculus I, II, and Statistics for Engineers. Additionally, all applicants must submit three letters of recommendation as part of their application process.

University of Maryland Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a Major in Project Management for International Students

If international students don’t have a degree from an accredited U.S. institution or an English speaking country, they will need to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores.

Boston University Master of Science in Project Management

Boston University Master of Science in Project Management is offered in person and online and is considered a great opportunity to implement knowledge of the industry. The Masters of Science program enables students to choose courses that they are interested in, and also they have the option to choose to complete the program with a concentration degree in Program & Project Portfolio Management. For those who want to receive the PMP certification, the program offers PMP and PMI-ACP exam preparation courses.

Costs and Timeline

It takes between 12 and 20 months to complete the Boston University Master of Science in Project Management program. The program can be taken as a part-time program or as a full time program, depending on every student’s flexibility.The part-time tuition is  $31,899 per semester. Students must complete 40 credit hours to graduate with a masters in project management successfully.

The 40 credits are divided into the following: four degree core courses that make up 16 credits, two elective courses that make up 8 credits, and four specialization courses that make up 16 credits. If students don’t have specialization or concentration, they will be offered a list of courses to select from instead. Although financial aid is available in the form of a federal loan, all U.S. citizens and permanent residents who apply to a master’s degree program at Boston University are considered for a merit scholarship of up to
$2400.

Requisites and Admissions

Boston University’s masters in project management program doesn’t require applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores to be considered. However, students are required to submit their current résumé or CV, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement where they demonstrate their interest in studying at the program.

Boston University Master of Science in Project Management for International Students

 International students that are accepted into the Boston University Master of Science in Project Management program are not eligible to receive scholarships or federal loans, but they can apply for private loans and graduate assistantships. Boston University is considered to be incredibly diverse since students from 140 different countries are represented there. Also, international students need to submit scores from either the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, or Duolingo English Test.

Pennsylvania State University Online Master of Project Management

Penn State World Campus offers an online masters of project management degree that prepares students by ensuring that students understand project-management theory and practice. Pennsylvania State University Online Master of Project Management program ensures that students have the same experience as if they were on campus by making the program interactive and dynamic. While studying online, students can still engage together, similar to a classroom like environment, by working in group projects and using discussion boards to share ideas and provide feedback to one another. Penn State University’s project management master’s degree is accredited by AACSB International, a globally recognized accreditation for business education, attained by a mere 5 percent of business schools, signifying an incredibly high level of excellence.

Costs and Timeline

The program comprises 30 credits with a single credit priced at $1,007. The whole Pennsylvania State University Online Master of Project Management program can be completed within 2 years. Also, students that are taking 12 or more credits per semester would pay $12,082 in tuition. First-year students that complete the scholarship application receive about 25% of the scholarship awards. Additionally, students can apply for a federal loan.

Requisites and Admissions

All applicants must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree or a 4 year equivalent. Furthermore, students applying to the program must submit a statement of purpose and their GPA from their last two years from their previous undergraduate institution.

Pennsylvania State University Online Master of Project Management for International Students

International students must submit their TOEFL or IELTS scores to apply. Also, international students could be eligible to apply for a select few scholarships.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Masters in Project Management program can be a very important step for professionals who seek to deepen their knowledge and enhance their skill set. The 5 best masters in project management programs discussed in this article offer great and unique opportunities for aspiring students. Each program has its own unique features that make it stand out. All aspiring students must consider their own interests and career goals to be able to choose the program that best fits them.

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