by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Project Management involves the study of Project Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Quantitative And Qualitative Knowledge, Skills, Tools, And Techniques To Manage Projects In A Wide Range Of Fields And Occupations. Includes Instruction In Project Planning, Risk Management, Cost And Time Management, Contracts And Procurement, Accounting, Statistics, Decision Making, And Human Resources. Continue reading for the key facts every project management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering project management programs.
Across the country, project management draws strong interest, with 4,784 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Project Management Schools ranking analyzes these 183 schools to determine the best overall colleges for project management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of project management programs later in this article.
Studies in Project Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations project management graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a project management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a project management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several project management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 108 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 50 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 960 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,427 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to project management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Master’s degree | 9.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in project management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying project management can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to project management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to project management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | 105,398 | -1.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of project management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for project management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers project management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 183 different project management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased project management school rankings to help you.
Those considering project management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
