Best Construction Management colleges in the U.S. 2024

Written by Tien Rooney

A construction manager reports on work progress, supervises construction personnel, negotiates cost estimates and budgets, and is on call 24-hours a day to deal with delays such as bad weather or other emergencies. As of 2021, a construction manager's median pay was $98,890 per year or $47.55 per hour, according to BLS. Salaried construction managers can also earn bonuses and overtime pay, and more than 60 percent of construction managers are self-employed.

Construction management blends business knowledge with basic construction and engineering instruction. Drafting, design, construction materials, surveying, quality management, safety, engineering fundamentals, estimating, and business management are typical course topics.

Time management is a vital skill for construction managers. Construction managers work with clients, engineers, architects, and suppliers to build residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, schools, and hospitals. They prepare contracts, obtain building permits, and make sure that projects meet applicable codes, standards, and budgets. New construction managers are generally hired as assistants to experienced managers before beginning independent work. Although certification isn't mandatory, it's highly recommended because it shows the manager has up-to-date knowledge and experience. The Construction Management Association of America and the American Institute of Constructors are two groups that award designations to qualified candidates.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US

Best Construction Management colleges in the U.S. for 2024

University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Image by @crambon0713

University of Miami offers 1 Construction Management degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 5 Construction Management students graduated with students earning 5 Master's degrees.

USC is a large, four-year institution located in Los Angeles, California with one construction management program. This school was founded in 1880 and is the oldest private research university in the state of California. The Master’s of Science in Construction Management program is fairly small with under 11 students enrolled in 2020-2021, which translates to smaller class sizes and increased opportunity for student-faculty interaction.

New York University
New York, NY

New York University is a large, four-year institution located in New York City with one construction management program that has 16 students enrolled in their Master of Science in Construction Management track in 2020-2021. The school is centrally located in Greenwich Village with many campus buildings lining Washington Square Park, making it a great pace for students who are interested in exploring the Big Apple. This program has small class sizes and gives students hands-on opportunities to observe local construction projects before graduation.

The University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus is a medium-sized public university located in suburban Norman. Their construction management program had over 30 graduates in the 2020-2021 academic year, all of which received a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This school is known for academic research, red brick campus aesthetic, and a football stadium that holds over 80,000 fans on game days.

UW is a large four-year public university located in Seattle, Washington that offers 1 Construction Management degree for students interested in working as contractors, builders, or developers. The UW campus is know for it’s gothic architecture and proximity to Lake Washington and Lake Union. Students enjoy two dedicated rail stops that allow them to explore the city and even go directly to the airport.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Virginia Tech, is a large public school located in the college town of Blacksburg. The school has many international satellite campuses that students can visit while pursuing their degrees. Their Construction Management program has over 120 students enrolled at the undergraduate level, and 5 students in the master’s program in 2020-2021.

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school located in an urban city and offers a Construction Management track that allows students to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Knoxville is the flagship campus in the University of Tennessee system. During football season, New Layland Stadium fills over 100,000 people on game days. This program had over 20 graduates in the 2020-2021 academic year and a student-faculty ratio of 17-1.

The University of Minnesota has a competitive Construction Management program that offers both undergraduate certificates and four-year bachelor’s degrees in the subject. This school is a large, public institution located in Minneapolis that had 22 students graduate from their Bachelor of Science in Construction Management program in the 2020-2021 academic year. Students that enroll at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities have the unique opportunity to explore both sides of the Mississippi and recreate in countless lakes that surround the metro area.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College offers 6 Construction Management degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 363 Construction Management students graduated with students earning 232 Bachelor's degrees, 92 Certificates, and 39 Master's degrees.

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson is a large public university with just under 30,000 students and offers a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree for students interested in entering the field. Clemson is located in upstate North Carolina along Lake Hartwell, just a few miles north of the Georgia border. This school awarded 6 doctorate certificates, 1 bachelor’s degree, and 3 master’s degrees to graduates in the program for the 2020-2021 academic year.

List of all Construction Management colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of Miami Logo University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
5/5
17 : 1 19,402
University of Southern California Logo University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
5/5
23 : 1 48,945
New York University Logo New York University New York, NY
5/5
20 : 1 59,144
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Logo University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK
3/5
20 : 1 28,308
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Logo University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
3/5
25 : 1 52,319