Project Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Project Management is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field focused on the strategic coordination of resources, timelines, and personnel to achieve specific goals within defined constraints. This program equips learners with the analytical and leadership capabilities needed to design, execute, and evaluate complex initiatives across diverse industries.
- Project Planning: Developing comprehensive blueprints that outline objectives, deliverables, milestones, and resource requirements to guide project execution from initiation to completion.
- Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential threats to project success through proactive strategies and contingency planning.
- Cost and Time Management: Applying techniques to forecast, monitor, and control project expenditures and schedules, ensuring alignment with budgetary and deadline targets.
- Contracts and Procurement: Navigating legal agreements and acquisition processes to secure goods, services, and vendor partnerships essential to project delivery.
- Accounting Principles: Utilizing financial reporting and analysis methods to track project expenditures, evaluate performance, and support informed budgetary decisions.
- Statistical Analysis: Leveraging data-driven models and quantitative methods to assess project outcomes, predict trends, and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Decision-Making Frameworks: Employing structured methodologies to evaluate alternatives, weigh trade-offs, and select optimal courses of action under uncertainty.
- Human Resource Management: Leading teams effectively by addressing staffing needs, fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts, and promoting productivity across project lifecycles.
Project Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Project Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Project Management degrees, including Managers, All Other, Project Management Specialists and Business Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,718,920 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Project Management Specialists 13-1082 | $100,750 | $59,830 - $165,790 | 1,006,160 | $48.44 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
Project Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $76,583 in Arkansas to $135,783 in California—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,718,920 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Project Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Project Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Project Management is found at University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (357 graduates), Ensign College (351 graduates), Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) (334 graduates), Capella University (234 graduates), and Spelman College (231 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,468 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
357 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| Ensign College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
351 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | ensign.edu |
| Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
334 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | csuglobal.edu |
| Capella University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
234 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Spelman College |
Residency
|
231 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | spelman.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
186 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | worldwide.erau.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Bachelor's
|
153 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
130 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
127 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Colorado Technical University (CTU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradotech.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
89 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
79 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Master's
|
79 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Bachelor's
|
78 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
Other Award
|
66 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) |
Other Award
|
64 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Public | morainepark.edu |
| Mid-State Technical College (Mid-State) |
Other Award
|
58 | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin | Public | mstc.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
Residency
|
57 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
47 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Columbia Basin College (CBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
42 | Pasco, Washington | Public | columbiabasin.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
40 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
37 | Winona, Minnesota | Private | smumn.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
37 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
35 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Master's
|
35 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| Northeast Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
35 | Pryor, Oklahoma | Public | netech.edu |
| Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Monterey, California | Public | nps.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Other Award
|
33 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
31 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Post University |
Master's
|
30 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Private | post.edu |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | wit.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology |
Master's
|
30 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Master's
|
28 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
27 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Amberton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Garland, Texas | Private | amberton.edu |
| Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
26 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Residency
Other Award
|
26 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| University of Arkansas Grantham (UA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
26 | LIttle Rock, Arkansas | Public | uagrantham.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Park University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
25 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Aspen University |
Master's
|
25 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | aspen.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
24 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Other Award
|
24 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
|
23 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Clackamas Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Oregon City, Oregon | Public | clackamas.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Other Award
|
23 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Webster University |
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
22 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) |
Postbac Cert.
|
21 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | indianatech.edu |
| Bemidji State University (BSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
21 | Bemidji, Minnesota | Public | bemidjistate.edu |
| Empire State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
21 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Charter Oak State College |
Other Award
|
20 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | charteroak.edu |
| Golden Gate University (GGU) |
Master's
|
19 | San Francisco, California | Private | ggu.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Public | cps.unh.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Master's
|
19 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Master's
|
18 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Carlow University |
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| City University of Seattle (CityU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
17 | Seattle, Washington | Private | cityu.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
16 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Columbia Southern University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
16 | Orange Beach, Alabama | Private | columbiasouthern.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Colorado Christian University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
15 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | ccu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
15 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Master's
|
15 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Western Nevada College (WNC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Carson City, Nevada | Public | wnc.edu |
| George Fox University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
15 | Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| Kiamichi Technology Center (KTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
15 | McAlester, Oklahoma | Public | ktc.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Master's
|
14 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
14 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Eastern Arizona College (EAC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Thatcher, Arizona | Public | eac.edu |
| Mount Saint Mary's University (MSMU) |
Master's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Private | msmu.edu |
| Millikin University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
13 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Other Award
|
13 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Postbac Cert.
|
13 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Other Award
|
13 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) |
Master's
|
12 | Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio | Public | afit.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| Spring Hill College (SHC) |
Master's
|
11 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | shc.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
|
11 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Mount St. Mary's University |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Private | msmary.edu |
| Cornerstone University (CU) |
Master's
|
11 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | cornerstone.edu |
| Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) |
Master's
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | mcny.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
11 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Inver Hills Community College (IHCC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota | Public | inverhills.edu |
| North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | nhcc.edu |
| Saint Paul College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Project Management programs
How much can I earn with a Project Management degree?
Salaries for Project Management graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Project Management Specialists earn around $100,750. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,783 compared to $76,583 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,718,920 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Project Management programs?
Currently 183 accredited institutions offer Project Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (357 graduates), Ensign College (351 graduates), and Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) (334 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Project Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 607 in 2010 to 4,784 in 2023-24. This represents a 688% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Project Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Project Management Specialists, and Business Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 1,718,920 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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