Best Online Master’s in Project Management 2026

Q: MBA or master’s in project management?–

An MBA with concentration in Project Management is an excellent option for students needing a foundation in basic business knowledge. In an online MBA in Project Management, you’ll likely have 9-12 electives (3-4 courses) focused on project management, while the majority of your credits hours are spent on business essentials. A Master’s in Project Management is focused on the specialization of project management. The master’s in project management will give you more time to go deeper into a specialization. If you have a background in business, a focused master’s program in project management may be right for you.

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Find top-ranked online master’s in project management degree programs in the US for students wanting to gain employment as project managers, project administrators, and associate project managers.

Key Takeaways

The best online master’s in project management programs incorporate capstone projects, case studies, and simulations, giving students the opportunity to work on real-world projects and apply project management principles in practical settings, preparing them for leadership roles in the field.
These programs offer flexible online formats with asynchronous coursework, allowing working professionals to balance their studies with full-time careers. Some programs also provide accelerated pathways to earn the degree faster while maintaining access to mentorship and career development resources.
Top programs in project management offer industry-aligned coursework in areas such as Agile project management, risk management, and global project leadership, allowing students to specialize and tailor their education to specific industries like IT, construction, or healthcare.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Project Management Master's Degrees in 2026

University of Southern California
Boston University
Brandeis University
Stevens Institute of Technology
+1
Saint Louis University
–1
University of Texas at Dallas
Thomas Jefferson University
Northern Arizona University
+2
Morgan State University
Montclair State University
+1

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or last ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top five ranking positions held steady, while Liberty University, Morgan State University, and Northern Arizona University all climbed into the top ten.

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s and MBAs in Project Management Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Project Management Degree

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Project Management

Degree Level: Master's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $9,724
Avg. Expenses*: $17,940
Avg. Starting Salary*: $83,399
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $95,030
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
Job Growth: 6.72%
Number of Jobs: 12,486,499
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	5.48%	$206,680
Computer and Information Systems Managers	17.42%	$169,510
Architectural and Engineering Managers	5.52%	$165,370
Natural Sciences Managers	7.49%	$157,740
Financial Managers	16.51%	$156,100
Compensation and Benefits Managers	2.09%	$136,380
Purchasing Managers	5.04%	$136,380
Human Resources Managers	6.51%	$136,350
Sales Managers	5.87%	$135,160
Managers, All Other	5.75%	$133,560

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$206,680
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$169,510
Architectural and Engineering Managers	$165,370
Natural Sciences Managers	$157,740
Financial Managers	$156,100
Purchasing Managers	$136,380
Compensation and Benefits Managers	$136,380
Human Resources Managers	$136,350
Sales Managers	$135,160
Managers, All Other	$133,560

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Learn to plan, analyze, measure, maintain and adapt projects from beginning to end with this specialized online MBA that you can earn in 1 year from Southern New Hampshire University. No GRE/GMAT required. Courses include: Project Management, Human Behavior in Organizations, Leading in an Organization and Economics for Business. Request degree information now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Project Management Degrees

An MBA with concentration in Project Management is an excellent option for students needing a foundation in basic business knowledge. In an online MBA in Project Management, you’ll likely have 9-12 electives (3-4 courses) focused on project management, while the majority of your credits hours are spent on business essentials. A Master’s in Project Management is focused on the specialization of project management. The master’s in project management will give you more time to go deeper into a specialization. If you have a background in business, a focused master’s program in project management may be right for you.

Recent graduates and professionals in the field can earn their master’s in project management online or on campus. This advanced degree program will prepare students to plan, manage, and execute plans in a variety of industries, including business, construction, technology, and engineering.

Graduate students will take courses like Agile Fundamentals, Applying Project Management Principles in IT, Transforming Organizations, Analytical Tools for Strategic Decision-Making, and Six Sigma Quality Management.

Most 30-credit programs can be completed in about two years, and graduates can then sit for the PMP certification exam.

Most students will go on to gain employment as project managers, project administrators, and associate project managers.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA).

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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Best Online Master’s in Project Management 2026

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Project Management Master's Degrees in 2026

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s and MBAs in Project Management Degree Programs

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Project Management degree at University of Southern California

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Boston University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Brandeis University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Stevens Institute of Technology

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Saint Louis University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at University of Texas at Dallas

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Thomas Jefferson University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Northern Arizona University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Morgan State University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Montclair State University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Central Michigan University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Lamar University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Golden Gate University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Troy University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Southern New Hampshire University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at The Citadel

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Missouri State University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Western Carolina University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at University of North Alabama

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Purdue Global

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at New England College

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Lindenwood University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Maryville University

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Career Outlook for Project Management degree at Thomas College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Project Management Degree

Project Management

Degree Level: Master's