Online MBA Programs in Project Management
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“An MBA in project management significantly impacted my career by giving me expertise in project planning, risk management, and leadership. These skills have enabled me to lead complex projects, ensure teams work effectively, and complete successful projects, placing me in leadership positions across many industries.”
David Taylor, MBA in Project Management, Founder of Academized
An online master’s of business administration (MBA) is a convenient alternative to on-campus learning, assisting students to become motivational leaders who create change and lead successful companies. These leaders can span all facets of an organization, from finance and engineering to marketing and human resources. One profession, in particular, is seeing a spike in demand: the project manager.
Project managers are becoming a growing presence in the workforce, found in various organizations. They ensure the successful execution of multiple projects by reducing the risk of failure and minimizing costs, inspiring and motivating employees, and building productive and efficient teams.
Common industries for project managers include construction, business, healthcare engineering, marketing, and information systems. In addition, small startups, major corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies all need project management, and even the military needs useful organizational leadership experts. According to a recent report by the world’s largest project management member association, Project Management Institute (PMI), the project management field is expected to grow by 33 percent, and employers will need nearly 88 million individuals in project management-oriented roles.
Project management positions attract candidates due to their strategic responsibilities, expertise, and high salaries. In 2023, project managers in construction earned a median salary of $104,900 per year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Similarly, the BLS estimates that project managers in human resources earn a median salary of $136,350, and computer and information systems managers can make close to $170,000.
Students in MBA programs focusing on project management will learn how to start, plan, and deliver projects that meet a company’s goals and success strategy. They will know how to oversee projects throughout the stages, from conceptualization and development to execution and post-project evaluation. Typical courses include integration of leadership elements, effective communications, supply chain management, resource management, financial analysis, and risk analysis. They will graduate with the skills and knowledge required for many top-level positions and managerial roles.
Most MBAs in project management require a commitment of 18 to 24 months. To be considered for admission, some schools require previous work experience. Students can complete most online MBAs virtually, but some require one-week on-campus residencies to augment their degrees.
This guide highlights distance-based MBA project management programs and an expert’s perspective on earning this specialized degree.
Featured Project Management Programs | ||
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Southern New Hampshire University | Online MBA In Project Management | View Full Profile |
University of Southern Indiana | Online MBA - Project Management | View Full Profile |
University of Wisconsin - Parkside | MBA - Program and Project Management | View Full Profile |
Purdue Global | Online MBA - Project Management | View Full Profile |
Boston University | Graduate Certificate - Project Management | View Full Profile |
Boston University | Graduate Certificate - Project, Program & Portfolio Management | View Full Profile |
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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details. |
Meet the Expert: David Taylor, MBA

David Taylor, the founder of Academized, holds an MBA in project management, where he developed expertise in project planning, delivery, and leadership.
With extensive experience in managing successful projects, he is dedicated to optimizing efficiency, fostering collaboration, and achieving exceptional results in project management.
BSchools.org: How has graduating with an MBA in project management enhanced your career?
Taylor: An MBA in project management significantly impacted my career by giving me expertise in project planning, risk management, and leadership. These skills have enabled me to lead complex projects, ensure teams work effectively, and complete successful projects, placing me in leadership positions across many industries.
BSchools.org: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective MBA applicant who’s aspiring to specialize in Project Management?
Taylor: One tip I would suggest to any MBA candidate wanting to become a project management specialist is to improve one’s organization and communication abilities. Project management is just as much about people as it is about processes, so a willingness to get hands-on experience via internships or project work will help you thrive in the real world.
Featured Online MBA in Project Management Programs
Florida Tech’s PMI-accredited project management MBA program gives students hands-on experience planning and managing projects in a modern business environment. Students can complete the 36-credit curriculum entirely online over six 14-week trimesters.
The program is designed for students wishing to obtain positions as environmental project managers, senior program managers, quality assurance managers, or project management consultants, among others. Throughout the program, students will learn how and when to use specific tools and techniques according to the project stage, and they will deepen their knowledge in topics like scope, time, cost, and quality management. Coursework prepares students to sit for the PMP certification examination. No GRE or GMAT is required for admission.
Location: Melbourne, Florida |
Accreditation: International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), PMI |
Format: Online |
Program length: Two years |
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside offers a compelling online MBA program for busy professionals. It boasts a flexible curriculum with nine specializations, including in-demand areas like data analytics, finance, and marketing.
Students can tailor their studies to their career goals and complete the program as quickly as 12 months. The curriculum is structured with core courses that provide a strong foundation in business fundamentals, followed by electives focused on the chosen specialization, including program and project management. Notably, students lacking a business background can take preparatory foundation courses to ensure success in the program.
Applicants to this 30-credit online program need not submit GMAT scores, but a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. Depending on undergraduate GPA, applicants may have to submit transcriptions from previous institutions. Six start dates are available throughout the year.
Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: One year |
Purdue University Global offers online MBA programs focusing on project management. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.5 or GRE or GMAT scores. No work experience or GRE/GMAT scores are required.
Core courses in the online MBA program include business perspectives; business communications; business analytics; financial accounting principles and analysis; measurement and decision-making; strategic human resource management; marketing management; economics for global decision-makers; financial management; designing, improving, and implementing processes; managing the value chain; strategic management; ethics in business and society; leadership strategies for a changing world; and an MBA capstone.
Project management concentration courses include strategic project selection and initiation; project planning and the project plan; project execution with monitoring and control; and project closing, ethics, and professional responsibilities.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
Format: Online |
Program length: Two years |
SNHU’s online MBA in project management is a 36-credit program that students can complete in as little as 15 months with two courses per term. SNHU is a registered education provider (REP) of the Project Management Institute (PMI), and students must take a project management professional (PMP) certification course to take the PMP exam.
MBA students can also obtain an additional graduate certificate in project management, where students will manage a project through its entire lifecycle—from initiation to completion.
Concentration courses within the MBA program include a project management seminar, business economics, marketing, and strategy, leading in an organization, ethics, corporate culture, and responsibility. GMAT scores and prior work experience are not required for admission; however, a GPA of 2.7 or higher is necessary to enter the program.
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and Project Management Institute (PMI) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 15 months |
Lamar University’s project management MBA program focuses specifically on construction project management. In the 30-credit online program, students will learn how to manage time, cost, quality, sustainability, risk, safety, and employees for large-scale projects in the construction industry. In addition, they learn about legal and safety practices specific to the industry, budgeting, sustainable design, marketing, strategy, and international business.
The curriculum for this online program includes five prerequisite courses for those with non-business undergraduate degrees, eight core MBA courses, and six construction project management courses. The latter include construction planning and scheduling, construction project management, legal practices in construction, construction safety management, construction cost estimating and analysis, and a sustainable built environment.
Location: Beaumont, Texas |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 12 months |
Boston University Metropolitan College provides various online master’s programs, including an innovative master of science in project management. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. No work experience or GMAT/GRE test scores are required.
BUMC’s online MS in project management has courses in financial concepts; quantitative and qualitative decision-making; global supply chains; the innovation process: developing new products and services; project management; and project communications management. Also, students must choose two of the following: project risk and cost management; project and program governance; project management; and agile project management.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 18 months |
Carlow University offers an online MBA with a specialization in project management. The program is designed for working professionals and can be completed in as little as 15 months. The project management specialty courses include project management I: introduction; project management II: agile; and project management III: capstone.
The curriculum includes core MBA courses such as finance, accounting, marketing, and organizational behavior. In addition, students take specialized courses in project management topics such as risk management, cost estimation, and quality control. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and at least 2-3 years of work experience. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission. After graduating from this program, many students pursue careers in project management, consulting, or other business roles.
Location: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania |
Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 15 months |
The Romain College of Business at the University of Southern Indiana offers an MBA in project management designed to prepare students for leadership roles in this growing field. The program includes common courses such as accounting, finance, and marketing and specialized courses in project management. Four start dates are available throughout the year for students’ convenience.
Project management courses include problem-solving, quality control, time management, project management techniques, and resource management. This curriculum is aligned with the Project Management Institute (PMI), which enables graduates to take the industry-level certification upon completing the program.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA and GMAT scores with a waiver available for applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. After graduation, many graduates pursue jobs in project management, consulting, or other business fields.
Location: Evansville, Indiana |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 11 months |
Ohio University’s online MBA in project management offers students the opportunity to pursue a specialized track within their MBA program. Typical courses in this specialization include project management I and II and change and risk management. Courses are taught through the Blackboard learning management platform with asynchronous classes and time-based quizzes and activities. In addition, students can interact with their professors via virtual office hours. Students taking one course per seven-week term can graduate in two years.
Admission requirements for this program are generally the same as for Ohio University’s other online MBA programs; however, students must submit additional materials such as a resume, three letters of recommendation, a goal statement, and official transcripts. After graduating from this program, graduates may pursue careers in project management, consulting, or other related fields.
Location: Athens, Ohio |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: Two years |
Spring Hill College offers an online MBA with a specialization in project management. This program is designed for working professionals who want to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue careers in project management. The program curriculum covers project planning, execution, control, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, a current resume, and three years of professional work experience. Applicants with less than three years of work experience must submit GMAT or GRE scores. MBA graduates with this specialization find careers in various industries, including construction, engineering, and IT. They may also pursue Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and find roles in project management, program management, or project coordination.
Location: Mobile, Alabama |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 10 months |
Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business offers a comprehensive online MBA program specializing in project management. This program will equip working professionals with the strategic and tactical skills needed to excel in today’s dynamic, project-driven environments. By combining rigorous coursework with hands-on experience, students deeply understand project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and control. The curriculum covers essential topics such as risk management, change management, and stakeholder engagement, empowering graduates to lead complex projects successfully.
The project management specialization offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Students can work on real-world projects, collaborate with industry experts, and apply their learning to solve real-world business challenges. This experiential approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, preparing graduates for leadership roles in various industries.
To be eligible for this program, applicants must submit GMAT/GRE scores or have three years of full-time professional work experience. Application fees are waived for those who attend a class visit.
Location: Malibu, California |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Format: Online |
Program length: Two years |
Maryville University offers a 39-credit MBA program that does not require students to have previous work experience. Instead, the curriculum is designed to develop the business expertise necessary for graduates to stand out from the competition via a practical and hands-on curriculum. Students can choose from nine concentrations: accounting, cybersecurity, health administration, IT, project management, general management, financial services, human resources management, and a general MBA.
Students complete 24 credit hours in foundational topics like business ethics and corporate financial policies. Following those courses, they can take electives that apply to their concentration of choice. In addition, students will complete 12 credits in project management, process and operations management, supply chain management, and enterprise planning and control for the project management track. Students will complete the program with a three-credit capstone. This program does not require any campus visits, and applicants do not have to submit GMAT or GRE test scores.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
Format: Online |
Program length: One year |
Norwich University offers a 36-credit online MBA in project management program where students can complete a general MBA degree or opt into one of six concentrations—project management, construction management, energy management, supply chain management, and logistics, finance, or organizational leadership. The program is designed for full-time employees to complement their daily work schedule. It comprises six courses delivered through an online classroom over 11 weeks.
Students complete an independent research project in their concentration of choice in collaboration with their employer or other approved multi-national organizations. The project management portion of the curriculum is accredited by the PMI and includes topics on project management techniques, tools, best practices, leadership, communication, teams, and strategy. A one-week on-campus residency is required to complete the course.
To be accepted into the program, students must have two years of work experience and a GPA of 2.75 or higher. No GMAT is required.
Location: Northfield, Vermont |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and Project Management Institute (PMI) |
Format: Online with a one-week on-campus residency |
Program length: 18 to 24 months |
Grand Canyon University’s online MBA in project management is a great choice for those looking to further their careers through the lens of a Christian worldview. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage projects of all sizes and types successfully. Core courses include leadership and organizations; accounting practices; finance principle; and applied business probability. In addition, project management courses include fundamentals of project management; and agile project management.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 2.8, and the GMAT and GRE are not required. After completing the program, graduates often pursue jobs as project managers, program directors, or consultants.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona |
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
Format: Online |
Program length: 18 to 24 months |
Admission Requirements for Online MBA Programs in Project Management
The programs featured above require several application conditions for students to be considered for admission. Some of those requirements include:
- Between two and five years of professional work experience
- A competitive GPA from a bachelor’s degree in business, management, or human resources
- GMAT test scores, which may be waived under certain conditions
- A personal statement of goals and objectives
- Essays
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Application fee