2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Project Management

New York University (NYU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management that totals 36 credit hours. Full-time students can complete the program within two years.

NYU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via D2L Brightspace, a popular learning management system (LMS). An online project management curriculum at the graduate level helps students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their chosen industry. Sample courses include Leading Global Organizations, Agile Project Management, and Management of Information Systems. Students must also complete a capstone course to graduate. Some potential careers for graduates are product managers, agile coaches, and project managers.

Georgetown University is a private, nonprofit, Catholic Jesuit-affiliated institution, and it offers an online Master of Professional Studies in Project Management requiring 30 credit hours. Full-time students can finish the program in two years.

At Georgetown, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the LMS Canvas. The program’s online curriculum focuses on leadership and communication skills in order to prepare students to become skilled project management leaders. Some of the courses are Project Initiation and Planning, Communication and Collaboration for Managers, and Agile Fundamentals. Graduates may enter careers like architectural project managers, project team leads, and project schedulers.

At the University of Southern California (USC) — a private, nonprofit institution — prospective students can pursue an online Master of Science in Project Management totaling 24 credit hours. It can take 1-2 years to complete this program with a full-time schedule.

USC facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via Blackboard. This program prepares students to advance their careers in project management through the presentation of different concepts and methodologies. The program’s courses are Requirements Elicitation and Business Analysis, Schedule Management, and Risk Management. Students must create a portfolio and complete an internship. Some prospective career industries for graduates include IT, healthcare, and marketing.

Lehigh University (Lehigh) is a private, nonprofit institution that offers an online Flex Master of Business Administration - Project Management requiring 36 credit hours. Full-time students can expect to complete this program in about two years.

Lehigh students complete online coursework asynchronously and synchronously on Course Site. The master’s in project management program covers the leadership, communication, and technical skills required to become a successful project management leader. Sample courses include Project Risk Management, Decision Making and Ethics on Projects, and Project Requirements and Scope Management. Additionally, a capstone course is required for graduation. Alumni may pursue careers as project managers, administrative managers, and logistics coordinators.

Northwestern University (Northwestern) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Information Systems - Project Management. Since it only requires 11 credit hours, the program is designed to take just one year.

At Northwestern, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously on the LMS Canvas. This program combines an overview of information systems with a focus on project management in that sector. Some of the program’s courses are Project Management Concepts, IT Project Management, and Information Technology Finance and Communication. To graduate, students need to finish a computer information systems project or a capstone research project. Potential industries for graduates are construction, pharmaceutical, and software development.

San Francisco's Golden Gate University (GGU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management to help graduate students develop the skills to manage global projects and choose an IT Management concentration. This is a 30-credit program taught by Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP)-certified instructors. Due to its accelerated format, full-time students can finish in less than two years.

An online Master of Business Administration in Project Management is also offered at GGU.

GGU uses its proprietary GGU4YOU learning management system to deliver its online course content. Courses in the online master's in project management include Agile Management for Project Managers, Advanced Project Planning and Control, Project Risk Management, and Foundations of Business Analytics. Completing just one of these classes fulfills the PMI's requirement to apply for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or PMP exams.

The University of Maryland - College Park (UMD) near Ellicott City is a public institution offering an online Master of Engineering in Project Management for working engineers, architects, and technical professionals interested in advancing their skills. It is the first project management program in an engineering school to become PMI-accredited. Graduating requires completing 30 credits, which generally takes full-time students two years. This program doesn't require a research thesis.

UMD delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Project management distance learners take courses such as Advanced Project Scheduling, Sustainability Fundamentals for Project Managers, Legal Aspects of Engineering Design and Construction, and Cost Engineering and Control.

The George Washington University (GWU) is a private, nonprofit institution in the nation's capital offering an online Master of Science in Project Management (OMSPM). Founded in 1996, it is one of the oldest project management degree programs of its kind. This program is very competitive with limited enrollment. Students complete 30 credits to graduate, typically taking two years of full-time attendance. OMSPM students can access all GW School of Business resources, including its active career center.

GWU uses Blackboard to deliver online coursework and instruction. OMSPM distance learners participate in classes such as Decision Models, Time Series Forecasting Analytics, Project Governance, and Business Process Simulation.

Located along the Charles River, Boston University (BU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management that allows students to choose required courses and electives that match personal academic and career interests. Students who have PMI certifications can earn up to 45 PDUs per course. Graduating requires completing 40 credits, which some full-time students may be able to achieve in a single year.

BU's online curriculum is delivered by Blackboard to distance learners. Those enrolled in the online project management graduate program take courses such as Portfolio and Program Management, Project Value Strategies, Agile Project Management, and Project and Program Governance. Some courses may be waived due to a student's professional designations.

Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Systems Engineering - Project Management for scientists and engineers eager to manage systems projects. This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Distance learners must complete 30 credits in order to graduate, which generally takes at least two years of full-time study.

JHU delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Online systems engineering graduate students choosing the project management focus take courses such as Technical Organization Management; Strategic Communications in Technical Organizations; Advanced Concepts in Agile Technical Management; and Finance, Contracts, and Compliance for Technical Professionals.

The University of Michigan - Dearborn (UM Dearborn) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Program and Project Management for technical professionals in various industries who want to transition from team members to program managers. This 30-credit program includes thesis and non-thesis options. Students can generally complete the degree in two years of full-time study.

UM Dearborn uses Canvas to deliver its online course content. Program and project management distance learners can choose to enroll in courses such as Developing and Interpreting Financial Information, Product and Process Design, Total Quality Management and Six Sigma, and Big Data Analytics and Visualization. Students who don't complete a thesis will complete a capstone instead.

Popular for its online programming, Arizona State University (ASU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Project Management that helps students develop skills, such as integrative thinking, problem-solving, ethical literacy, and values thinking. The program culminates in the creation of a professional project management portfolio. Graduating requires completing 33 credits, which full-time students may accomplish in just one year.

ASU's distance learners access their classes via Canvas. Those enrolled in the online project management master's program engage in courses such as Social Psychological Perspectives in Project Management, Developing the Plan in Project Management, Leading Integrative Teams, and The Thoughtful Project: Aligning Purpose with Approach.

Located in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Enterprise Project Management to help students develop the skills to drive change and make smarter decisions for their organizations. Concentrations are available in General Management, Software Engineering, and Construction Management. Students must complete 30 credits to graduate, which generally takes two years.

SIT delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. Depending on the concentration, enterprise project management distance learners take courses such as Strategic Responses to Cyclical Environments, Agile Methods for Software Development, Financial Decision Making, and Process Innovation. A capstone is also required to graduate.

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is a public institution offering an online Master of Project Management through its World Campus. This interdisciplinary program incorporates problem-based learning into its curriculum. Students complete 30 credits to graduate, which typically takes two years with a full-time courseload. This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Penn State is also recognized as a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP).

Penn State uses Canvas to deliver fully remote coursework and instruction. Online project management program students choose from courses such as Engineering Product Innovation, Operations Planning and Control, Engineering Across Cultures and Nations, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, students must participate in a capstone experience before they earn their degrees.

Michigan's Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Business Administration - Project Management that uses PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and other International Standards to guide instruction. This fast-paced program requires completing 36 credits, which may be done in under two years if attending with a full-time schedule.

LTU's online curriculum is delivered to distance learners via Canvas. Project management program courses include Project Risk and Quality Management, Managing Outsourced Projects, Enterprise Information Technology, and Agile Project Management. A capstone project is required before students may graduate.

Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) in Columbus is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management for graduate students who want to apply project management techniques and leadership skills across various business settings. Students can choose to specialize in specific areas, such as Business Analytics, Human Resources Management, and Business Venturing. This 30-credit program may take some full-time students less than two years to complete.

OSU also offers an online Master of Business Administration - Project Management for students interested in pursuing an MBA.

OSU uses the Carmen learning management system to deliver online coursework and instruction. The online project management graduate program curriculum aligns with PMP and CAPM. Regardless of the specialization chosen, all online project management graduate students must complete courses in Change and Risk Management, Lean Six Sigma, and Project Management I and II. Besides coursework, OSU also requires a capstone/thesis project for this graduate degree.

The University of Wisconsin - Platteville (UW Platteville) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management accredited by PMI. This degree counts as one-third of the project management work experience required to become PMP certified. Optional emphases include Human Captial Administration, Integrated Supply Chain Management, and Managing Engineering Projects. Students must complete 36 credit hours total, which usually takes around two years of full-time study.

UW Platteville delivers its online program curriculum via Canvas. Project management distance learners take courses such as Taguchi Method of Designing Experiments, Project Portfolio Management, Interpersonal Skills for Virtual and Co-Located Project Teams, and Project Scope Management. A thesis and capstone project are both required to graduate.

Connecticut's University of Hartford (UH) is a private, nonprofit institute offering an online Master of Business Administration - Project Management through the Hartford Barney School of Business so students can earn an MBA while focusing on developing advanced project management skills. This 36-credit, accelerated program generally takes two years for full-time students to complete.

UH delivers its online curriculum to distance learners via Blackboard. Those enrolled in this online MBA program with a project management focus take courses such as Managing Organizational Processes, Innovation and Project Management, Global Strategic Management, and Six Sigma Principles and Applications. A capstone is also required to graduate.

Montclair State University (MSU) in New Jersey is a public institution offering an online Master of Business Administration - Project Management through the Feliciano School of Business for mid-level managers, entrepreneurs, career-changers, and recent bachelor's graduates. Graduating requires completing 39 credits, which typically takes two years of full-time study. MSU offers six start dates per year, allowing for greater scheduling flexibility.

MSU's distance learners access their coursework and class instruction via Canvas. Online MBA-Project Management students enroll in courses such as Contemporary Topics in Project Management, Risk Analysis and Management, Systems Development Life Cycle Management, and Advanced Project Management.

North Carolina's Wake Forest University (WFU) in Winston-Salem is a private, nonprofit school offering an online Master of Science in Project Management through its School of Professional Studies that integrates leadership development with a state-of-the-art technical curriculum. Students complete 30 credits, which generally takes two years of full-time study. This program also helps prepare students for industry certification and credentialing exams, such as the Professional ScrumMaster certification exam.

WFU uses Canvas to deliver its online program content. Courses in the online project management curriculum include Mastering the Project Life Cycle, Agile Fundamentals, Lean Six Sigma, Project Management Professional (PMP) Leadership Preparation, and ScrumMaster Leadership Preparation.

New England's Norwich University (NU) in Vermont is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Business Administration - Concentration in Project Management with small class sizes in an accelerated format. PMI accredits this concentration. Students can generally complete this 36-credit program in 18 months if attending full time. NU offers four start dates per year.

MU uses the Moodle learning management system for online program delivery. Courses in the project management concentration include Project Management Techniques, Tools, and Practices; Project Management Leadership, Communications, and Teams; and Strategic Management in Project Management. Also, passing a comprehensive exam is required to graduate.

Saint Louis University - Main Campus (SLU) in Missouri is a private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management to help graduate students develop advanced project strategy, contract management, and project management math skills. Graduating requires completing 33 credits, typically taking full-time students at least two years.

SLU delivers online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Online project management-specific courses in this degree program include Planning Projects, Agile Project Management, Project Execution and Delivery, and Project Selection and Initiation. Students can complete a master's project or internship experience as part of graduation requirements.

The University of Idaho (UI) in Moscow is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Technology Management - Project Management through its Department of Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management. This program is designed for working technical professionals seeking career advancement. This 30-credit course generally takes full-time students around two years to complete or three if attending part time.

UI uses Canvas so its distance learners can access online course content. Those enrolled in the online project management concentration take courses such as Technical Project Management, Environmental Lifecycle Assessment, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Fundamentals, and Advanced Project Management. Students can also choose to complete a comprehensive exam or thesis, but they need to finish one of these in order to graduate.

The University of Kansas (UK) is a public institution in Lawrence offering an online Master of Science in Project Management to help students develop advanced skills to lead simple, short-duration projects to complex, multi-year projects in various environments. The curriculum follows the PMI PMBOK. This 33-credit program takes full-time students approximately two years to complete.

UK delivers asynchronous online course content via Canvas. Courses in the project management curriculum include a series of four Project Management Fundamentals courses, Management of Consulting Projects, Portfolio Analysis and Program Management, Developing as a Project Leader, and Project Team Management and Development.

Colorado's University of Denver (UD) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership - Project Management that follows PMI PMBOK guidelines and prepares students for PMP certification. Courses are ten weeks, and graduating requires 36 credits, which may take some full-time students as few as 18 months to complete if they take two classes per term.

UD uses Canvas to deliver online coursework and instruction to distance learners. Those enrolled in the online project management program may take courses such as Advanced Methods for Complex Projects, Agile Techniques and Practices in Project Management, Managing Technology for Strategic Value, and Business Forecasting and Planning.

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is a public institution in New Jersey offering an online Master of Science in Management - Project Management providing a comprehensive overview of the field according to PMI's Project Management Life Cycle model and nine areas of competencies. This 36-credit program takes full-time students approximately two years to complete. Students may earn credits for prior learning and work experience to save time and money.

TESU delivers its online curriculum via Moodle. Online students access Moodle to participate in courses in the online project management program, such as Project Leadership and Communication, Project Risk Management, Procurement and Vendor Management, and Global Project Management.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) in Winona is a private, Catholic institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management accredited by PMI. The program curriculum is designed to help students learn project management best practices for predictive, hybrid, and adaptive (agile) methodologies. This program also helps prepare students for PMP certification. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, which takes full-time students two years.

SMUMN uses Canvas so distance learners can access online coursework and instruction. Courses in the online project management program include Project Procurement Management, Strategic Project and Program Management, Project Scope and Scheduling, and Project Risk Management. In addition to coursework, a three-hour capstone is required to graduate.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide (ERAU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management that helps equip students to lead large, complex projects and operationalize project management systems and policies. Students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework to graduate, which generally takes at least two years of full-time attendance.

ERAU delivers online coursework and instruction via Canvas. Distance learners in the online project management graduate program take courses such as Directing and Controlling Projects, Strategic Decision-Making for Leaders, Planning and Execution Strategy, and Contemporary Project Management. The project management capstone is the last course students need to take before they can graduate with their degree.

Pennsylvania's DeSales University (DSU) is a private nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Business Administration - Project Management for students with at least a basic understanding of business principles who are eager to become project managers. DSU has an open enrollment policy and several yearly enrollment times to accommodate diverse schedules. Graduating requires completing 36 credits, which takes full-time students approximately two years.

DSU uses Blackboard, so distance learners can complete assignments and participate in class. Those enrolled in the project management program take courses such as Scope and Cost Management, Integrating Quality into your Project Methodologies, Advanced Project Management, and Risk Management. To graduate, online students must also take a capstone integrating course, such as Policy and Strategy.

Charleston’s Citadel Military College of South Carolina (CMCSC) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Project Management focusing on personal and organizational effectiveness, principled leadership, innovative analytical procedures, and solutions to emerging technical resource issues. Graduating requires completing 30 credits, including two core curriculum modules focusing on technical project management and principled leadership. Students can also choose electives from their specialty, including engineering, computer science, or business.

The master's degree in project management at CMCSC delivers its online coursework and instruction via the platform Canvas. Distance learners in this discipline choose from classes such as Technical Project Support and Operations, Project Manager Leadership Development, Decision and Risk Analysis, and Applications of Quality Management.