Finding the Best Construction Management Schools can be rewarding and profitable. It is a privilege to pursue a career as a construction manager, but before starting a new job, a person must finish an appropriate degree.
It shouldn’t be up to chance which best construction management college program you choose. Future students should research the admissions procedure, exam specifications, Costs and scholarships, tuition fees, program accreditation, and more before making a choice.
It’s a good idea to research the colleges and universities that provide construction management programs in order to identify the top institutions. This is where we come in to help.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best construction management schools in the U.S. for 2024. We’ll break down what makes them great and give you some tips on finding scholarships to help pay for your education.
Table of Contents
- Construction Management
- Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Construction Management Schools
- 21 Best Construction Management Schools in the World
- #1. Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- #2. Purdue University
- #3. Loughborough University
- #4. California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
- #5. Kennesaw State University
- #6. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- #7. Columbia University’s Construction Management
- #8. University of Southern California
- #9. Drexel University
- #10. Brigham Young University – Provo
- #11. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- #12. Stevens Institute of Technology
- #13. Wentworth Institute of Technology
- #14. Milwaukee School of Engineering
- #15. Clemson University
- #16. Virginia Tech
- #17. University of Oklahoma
- #18. Thomas Jefferson University
- #19. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- #20. San Diego State University
- #21. Bradley University
- Top Developing Nations With Construction Industries
- FAQs on the Best Construction Management Schools
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
Construction Management
Earning a degree in construction management will give you the knowledge and abilities needed to manage others if you’re interested in a long-term career in construction. Courses in civil engineering and construction management overlap quite a little, yet these are two distinct disciplines with different educational and professional needs.
The main difference between the two is that civil engineering is more concerned with the entirety of an infrastructure project, including planning, budgeting, environmental analysis, legal permits, and construction materials.
However, construction management deals with the on-site elements of a construction project. Because engineers turn concepts into actual projects and construction managers work directly with procedures and materials, practical experience is particularly crucial in this profession.
As a construction manager, you can be responsible for some of the following:
- Keeping clients informed of a project’s status and development
- Maintaining the budget, accounting for both project costs and labour costs for construction personnel
- Selecting and controlling the work of subcontractors
- Addressing difficulties such as safety concerns, delays, missed deadlines, and others
- Working together with experts like architects and civil engineers
Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Construction Management Schools
It’s important to take into account a number of important factors before packing up your life and moving across the nation for school. These elements comprise the institution’s accreditation, the cost of tuition, and the graduation standards.
Here are some considerations for students as they compare the top construction management programs and colleges.
Location
A typical barrier for many potential students is the location of a school: If a student wishes to pursue in-person learning, they must move to the area where the institution is located. However, depending on the student’s current location, the school selection pool may be rather constrained if the student cannot afford to uproot their life and move to a new city, find a new job, and find a new place to live.
While money isn’t always an issue, students may have more prioritized concerns. For example, they might not want to relocate to a location with harsh winters if they are used to living somewhere warm all year.
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Learning in Person vs. Online
A student’s top construction management program may be available online, in which case location need not be a deciding factor.
Students will want to look into their alternatives to see if they can study online or if they need to relocate. The ability for students to hold tangible samples of various materials makes in-person instruction advantageous, particularly for those working in the construction business.
Conversations with lecturers in person and fellowship among classmates can also benefit students. However, not everyone learns in the same way.
While some students may find studying in an online classroom to be extremely difficult, others might prefer studying remotely versus in a crowded classroom.
Accreditation
Students should carefully consider the program accreditation when researching top construction management colleges to ensure that the course material they will be learning is routinely evaluated, updated, and recognized by a governing body.
The ABET and ACCE accreditations are the most often used for construction management programs in America. More than 2,200 professionals from academia, government, and industry contributed to the development and upkeep of the ABET accreditation program.
It offers guidelines for applied and natural science, computing, engineering, engineering technology, construction management, and other disciplines offered at colleges and universities.
The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accreditation program promotes, enhances, and maintains standards for construction education and research.
Degree Programs at the Best Construction Management Schools
Before deciding on a construction management school, it is advised to investigate the course offerings and degree options. A variety of degrees, certificates, and diplomas can assist students in entering the construction sector.
For employment as a construction manager, a bachelor’s in science may be sufficient. Yet a student may want to think about pursuing a higher-level degree to increase their earning potential or land a more prestigious position.
Test Requirements and the Application Process
The institution must still admit the student as a student even if they locate a construction management program they like. The application procedure varies for each school.
When investigating suitable colleges, it is crucial to look into the application procedure and learn what documents the school expects applicants to provide, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test results. Also important to note is whether or not the school has a rolling application deadline.
Students applying for undergrad programs typically submit their SAT or ACT scores. Although not always, graduate students are frequently asked for their GRE or GMAT scores.
College Costs and Other Expenses
Before selecting a construction management school, students should examine the tuition expenses, cost per credit hour, and any other fees because cost has always been a major factor in higher education in America. If a student lives off-campus, additional fees could apply, such as enrollment fees, housing reservation fees, resident fees, meal plan fees, or just the cost of living.
Part-time education is a viable option for those who don’t believe they can afford full-time tuition. Even though they won’t be able to finish the program as quickly as full-time students, part-time students can still make progress by taking small, doable steps.
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Opportunities for Internships
One of the finest ways to learn new skills is frequently through practical experience. Students can fully immerse themselves in the building business through internships.
Students can interact one-on-one with professionals in the industry and gain a better understanding of what would be required of them in a professional setting.
Some degrees call for internships. Internships may be recommended but not necessary at other institutions.
21 Best Construction Management Schools in the World
The top universities in the world, as determined by their success in construction management research, are listed below. To determine publications’ ratings, which were then corrected for release dates and added to final scores, a graph of 1.59M citations received by 80.2K academic articles produced by 972 universities around the world was employed.
We don’t distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs or modify the available majors. Information regarding degrees awarded can be found on a university page, but always confirm with the university website.
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#1. Hong Kong Polytechnic University
A top-tier research university, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has 67,052 scientific papers published and 1,941,139 citations.
Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Computer Science, Business, Medicine, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Environmental Science, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are just a few of the disciplines included in the research profile.
With a 10% acceptance rate, you can already know your admission chance if you apply at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Also, note that, admission rates for various programs can differ greatly.
#2. Purdue University
Purdue University has awarded 8,130 bachelor’s degrees across 138 programs, 2,255 master’s degrees across 71 programs, and 1,034 doctoral degrees across 65 programs.
With a 69% acceptance rate, Purdue University ranks among the top 30% of American universities where admission is the most challenging. The university does not distinguish between domestic and foreign students while reporting the admissions data.
#3. Loughborough University
With 1,239,242 citations and 39,828 published scientific publications, Loughborough University ranks as one of the best construction management schools. The research profile covers a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, chemistry, physics, liberal arts and social sciences, business, materials science, computer science, medicine, psychology, and environmental science.
#4. California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
Students interested in construction management can consider California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. A fairly sizable public university called Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is situated in a San Luis Obispo area.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fantastic university overall, earning a Best Colleges ranking of #97 out of 2,241 institutions nationally.
In the most current data year, 114 students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s construction management program received this degree.
Earnings for graduates of California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo’s construction management program are around $17,415 higher than the national average.
#5. Kennesaw State University
The Master of Science in Construction Management (M.S.) degree has been offered by the Construction Management Department at Kennesaw State University since 1995.
The American Council of Construction Education (ACCE) has approved the program.
#6. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Construction Management program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, offers graduate-level study for those looking for mid- and upper-level management employment in the construction business or for continuing education toward a PhD.
For the community’s benefit, UNLV offers high-quality, state-of-the-art multidisciplinary physical and mental health care that is cutting-edge and sensitive to the needs of students and stakeholders.
Besides offering top-notch educational services as one of the best construction management schools, UNLV also engages in groundbreaking research and scholarship.
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#7. Columbia University’s Construction Management
Every student who is interested in construction management should look at Columbia University in the City of New York. In the vast city of New York, there is a very sizable private, not-for-profit university called Columbia.
Overall, Columbia University is a fantastic institution of higher learning, with a Best Colleges ranking of #14 out of 2,241 institutions nationally.
In the most recent year for which we have data, 33 Columbia construction management students received degrees. Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York who majored in construction management make $32,121 more than the average college graduate with the same degree immediately after graduation.
#8. University of Southern California
Ranking as one of the top universities and best in the nation to pursue a construction management degree, this private, non-profit house in the sizable city of Los Angeles, USC, has a sizable student body. According to Best Colleges, USC is a top university overall, coming in at number 18 out of 2,241 institutions globally.
In the most recent academic year for which data are available, about 11 students at USC received degrees in construction management.
#9. Drexel University
Drexel is a large private, not-for-profit university situated in Philadelphia. According to Best Colleges, it is a top university overall, coming in at #123 out of 2,241 institutions nationwide.
In the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 38 Drexel construction management students received degrees in that field.
Students majoring in construction management who graduate from Drexel University earn $11,272 more than the typical student.
#10. Brigham Young University – Provo
BYU is a private, non-profit university with a sizable student body located in the medium-sized city of Provo.
Brigham Young University is a fantastic university overall, ranking #122 out of 2,241 institutions globally, according to Best Colleges.
In the most current data year, BYU awarded this degree to about 63 construction management students. Graduates with degrees in construction management typically start their careers with an annual salary of $67,720.
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#11. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
UMN Twin Cities is a fairly sizable public university situated in Minneapolis. It is a top university overall, coming in at #60 out of 2,241 institutions nationwide in the Best Colleges ranking.
In the most recent year for which we have data, there were roughly 26 construction management students who received this degree from UMN Twin Cities. Graduates with degrees in construction management often start their careers with an average salary of $68,050.
#12. Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens is a private, not-for-profit institution with a sizeable student body situated in the sizable suburb of Hoboken.
Stevens is a fantastic institution overall, earning a Best Colleges ranking of #75 out of 2,241 institutions nationwide.
In the most recent data year, Stevens graduated about 13 construction management students with this degree.
#13. Wentworth Institute of Technology
In the city of Boston, there is a small private non-profit institution called WIT. In Massachusetts, this school is ranked 26th overall out of 63 institutions.
In the most recent year for which data are available, around 132 WIT students who studied construction management received this degree.
Wentworth Institute of Technology graduates in the field of construction management earn an average salary of $15,657 more than other graduates in the field.
#14. Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee is a major city where MSOE, a tiny private non-profit institution, is situated. In Wisconsin, this institution is ranked seventh overall among 46 colleges.
In the most current data year, MSOE awarded this degree to roughly 19 construction management students. Milwaukee School of Engineering construction management graduates earn $5,823 more annually than the average graduate in this field.
#15. Clemson University
A very sizable public university called Clemson is situated in a sizable Clemson suburb. Clemson is a fantastic university overall, coming in at #109 out of 2,241 colleges in the country according to Best Colleges.
In the most recent data year, about 10 Clemson construction management students received this degree. Students who complete the construction management program report earning an average of $62,908 in their first year of employment.
#16. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech should be considered by every student interested in a degree in construction management. The city of Blacksburg is home to the enormous public university Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is a fantastic institution overall, earning a Best Colleges ranking of #48 out of 2,241 institutions globally.
In the most current data year, Virginia Tech graduated roughly 134 construction management students with this degree.
Students who graduate from Virginia Tech with a construction management degree see an increase in income of about $2,846 over the national average.
#17. University of Oklahoma
Known as one of the best construction management schools, the University of Oklahoma was established as a public university in 1890. The campus is 3,326 acres in size and has a total undergraduate enrolment of 21,152. It is located in a city.
The academic calendar is based on semesters. University of Oklahoma is ranked #127 in National Universities in the 2024–2025 edition of Best Colleges.
The cost of in-state tuition and fees is $9,312, while out-of-state costs are $25,880.
#18. Thomas Jefferson University
In 1824, a private college called Thomas Jefferson University was established. The environment is Urban, and there are 3,754 undergraduate students enrolled in total.
The academic year is structured around semesters. In the 2024 – 2025 edition of Best Colleges, Thomas Jefferson University is ranked #127 for National Universities. $44,400 is required for tuition & fees.
#19. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
An institution established in 1794. The campus is 910 acres in size, located in an urban area, and has a total undergraduate enrolment of 25,067.
It makes use of an academic calendar based on semesters. University of Tennessee, Knoxville is ranked #115 in National Universities in the Best Colleges edition for 2024.
The cost of tuition and fees is $13,244 for residents of the state and $31,434 for those who live outside of it.
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#20. San Diego State University
Public San Diego State University was established in 1897. It is located in an urban area with a 560-acre campus and has a total undergraduate enrolment of 30,865. It makes use of a semester-based academic calendar.
The National Universities section of the Best Colleges rating for 2024 places San Diego State University at #151. In-state tuition and fees are $8,198; out-of-state tuition and fees are $9,098.
#21. Bradley University
Bradley University is a private school established in 1897. The school has 4,331 undergraduate students enrolled, a campus that is 85 acres in size, and a city location.
The academic calendar is based on semesters. The National Universities section of the Best Colleges places Bradley University at number 166. The total cost of the program is $37,800.
Top Developing Nations With Construction Industries
Both domestic and foreign labourers can find fantastic construction jobs in many different countries. The greatest places to apply with developing building industries are included on this page. Check out the list to discover if the nation you’d like to visit or call home is included!
#1. United Kingdom
Brexit and COVID-19 recently hurt the building business in the UK, as they did in most other nations. You’ll be relieved to learn that there won’t be many cases in progress in 2024, and many people have predicted that this will be the year we find out the truth about the Brexit uncertainties.
If you’re unaware of Brexit and the reasons it’s creating anxiety, the UK, one of the most influential members of the EU, has left the bloc. Before a real policy reform occurred, this choice ultimately decreased UK commerce in products and services.
Trade policies with European nations and other trading partners were impacted. The exit significantly impacted the construction services sector, resulting in a scarcity of workers and supplies.
The United Kingdom (still) remains one of the top countries for construction workers while these problems are being rectified. In comparison to Switzerland, the country has lower living expenses.
#2. United States
The US construction market experienced rapid growth last year and is predicted to continue doing so in 2024. Construction workers worldwide have many new employment opportunities.
Since workers cannot control these threats, safety in the United States can be enhanced so that employees don’t have to worry about potentially fatal working circumstances.
#3. Belgium
Belgium has very high standards in terms of healthcare, education, and living conditions. Given that it is one of the most peaceful nations in the world, its safety is another important consideration.
With such a strong and varied economic foundation, Belgium is able to grow both its manufacturing and service sectors of the economy. Without a doubt, Belgium’s construction market is also booming.
This nation’s open economy attracts many construction employees. Although the cost of living is rather expensive in this area, construction jobs thankfully pay quite well and are worth the expense.
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#4. Switzerland
Switzerland’s breathtaking views of the terrain inspire many people to travel there. But did you know that Switzerland is one of the best Western nations for aspirant construction employees?
This nation is among the most politically and economically stable in the world, and its construction industry keeps growing.
The government puts a lot of money into its housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure programs. The high average cost of living in this nation is a drawback.
But don’t worry, because earnings in Switzerland are often substantial and can cover living expenses. Swiss construction employees typically make roughly $79,000 per year.
You’ll be relieved to learn that few incidents are reported on building sites. There are more benefits than drawbacks to considering moving to Switzerland, but if you intend to work there, make sure to do more thorough research.
#5. Australia
Australia is home to several excellent businesses that assist property owners in creating the home of their dreams, such as Montgomery Homes. This business displays the display homes it offers and its home designs. Customers can even use virtual reality to view their works.
You can relax knowing that Australian construction occupations have a high degree of job security. Your compensation will, however, obviously vary depending on your line of work.
Montgomery Homes is a terrific firm for anyone seeking for a business that employs cutting-edge technologies and designs. Visit for additional details.
FAQs on the Best Construction Management Schools
10 Top Degrees in Construction For a profession in construction, what should you study?
Architecture.
Physical condition.
Communications.
Communications with the public.
Philosophy.
Managing a project.
Math.
The management of construction.
It will take four years to get a construction management bachelor’s degree. One to two years are needed to complete a master’s. Many students who study construction work during the day and attend online classes at night. Students who study online can go at their own pace toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Switzerland does because the government puts a lot of money into its housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure programs. The high average cost of living in this nation is a drawback. But don’t worry, because earnings in Switzerland are often substantial and can cover living expenses.
Construction management’s primary goal is to tightly regulate and track a project’s advancement in terms of quality, cost, and timeliness. It spans a broad range of duties and extends to a variety of industries (such as engineering, legal, software, and construction).
Conclusion
The first step to having a fulfilling career is selecting the best school for construction management. It is important to check out facts about tuition costs, available scholarships, and the type of school while you weigh your options. Ensure you make your due diligence before settling for any of the schools above.
References
- Collegeconsensus.com – 10 Best Degrees for Construction
- Constructionplacements.com – 5 Best Countries With Growing Construction Industries
- Bobvila.com – The Best Construction Management Schools
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