Online Project Management Degrees

Online Bachelor's in Project Management Rankings, Salaries & Courses

A bachelor's in project management can prepare you for an exciting and lucrative career. Project managers run company initiatives efficiently, and the skills required to do so are needed in nearly every industry. As new technologies and ideas reshape the economy, project managers will help lead industries into the future.

Choosing to pursue a project management bachelor's degree online allows you to earn a degree on our own schedule and often more quickly than an on-campus degree. You may be able to apply your work experience toward college credits. This guide will help you decide if an online project management program is the right degree for you.

How Much Can You Make in a Project Management Career?

Your online project management degree can lead to a variety of careers, and while it won't guarantee you a job or a specific salary, it will increase your chances of getting hired. A bachelor's in project management will open up a variety of potential positions and help you stand out from other candidates with less education. The table below lists five careers your degree can help prepare you for, as well as the median salaries and expected growth of each position. This table is by no means exhaustive but is intended to give you some ideas for your own career planning.

Sources: BLS 2018

The salary you earn from a given position can vary due to several factors. The most important of these is location. Cost of living and median income can vary from state to state and city to city. The section below will give you some idea of how much salaries can vary from state to state, to help you plan for your future.

What Courses Can be Taken for an Online Project Management Degree?

Every bachelor's degree in project management is unique, so every program has different course requirements. The table below offers five examples of the kinds of courses you may take, though the names and specific details will vary from one program to the next.

Leadership Principles

These courses address personal, professional, and organizational leadership tactics and the skills necessary for successful project management.

Principles of Management

In these courses, you'll cover the functions of management, including planning, organization, staffing, and leadership.

Project Scheduling and Control

These courses explore best practices for planning projects and keeping them on track. Students participate in immersive scenarios to give them a first-hand understanding of the concepts.

Project Management Tools

In project management courses, you'll become familiar with the tools and techniques used to successfully manage projects, and will be introduced to popular software used for that purpose.

Project Risk Assessment

Here, you'll cover the techniques used to assess projects for potential risks, as well as how to mitigate those risks in order to minimize the impact on a given project.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Courses and Careers in Online Project Management Programs

There are a lot of factors to consider when evaluating schools. This section includes five common questions that can help you figure out if an online program is right for you. Every school has advisers who will be happy to help you with more specific questions.

What are the benefits of attending online?

Online programs are generally more flexible, allowing you to fit them into your schedule. Some programs are offered in accelerated formats, which means you will take more classes per term than normal, and finish your degree more quickly. Perhaps most useful, many online programs cost less than their on-campus equivalents.

Is an online program the same quality as one on campus?

You will get the same quality of instruction online because most courses are taught by the professors who administer on-campus equivalent courses.

Can I get financial aid for an online program?

Yes! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid can help you find loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study programs to help you cover the costs of going to college. These sources are available to any students who attend accredited schools, both online and in-person. Other sources of funding, such as private scholarships, may have more specific requirements, such as enrollment in a certain university.

How do I choose classes for my online project management degree?

You will have required courses that you must complete but should have the freedom to choose some of your other classes, both within your degree and for your general education requirements. Choose courses that align with your career goals.

How long will my degree take?

That depends on a few factors. A bachelor's degree can generally be completed in four years of full-time study. Taking extra courses each term or attending during the summer can reduce this time, but can also be more stressful than taking the expected number of courses. Many online programs offer ways to reduce the time you spend on your degree.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for Project Management Programs

Scholarships are a great way to help pay for your online bachelor's degree in project management. Unlike student loans, they don't have to be paid back, but they are competitive and can be hard to get. The table below includes five scholarships to help get you started looking for some to which you may apply.

Bishop/Kloch Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is for a student pursuing a project management-related curriculum, full or part time, undergraduate or graduate, at an accredited university. It is open to members of the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Baltimore, Maryland chapter, or the child or grandchild of a member. The PMI has been helping to advance project management as a field and discipline since 1969, and today boasts almost three million members in 80 different countries.

Charles Lopinski Memorial Scholarship

Recently increased to $3,000 a year, this scholarship is offered by the PMI's Orange County, California chapter. This scholarship is intended for students who are entering or continuing their degree program (with proof of enrollment) in a project management-related field. Winners will be chosen based on their academic credentials, two essays, and the judges' overall impression that they have the capacity for academic success.

Clayman C. Myers, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Each year the PMI Education Foundation (PMIEF) awards up to $2,000 to a member from the Washington, D.C. chapter of the organization. This scholarship can only be applied to accredited schools in Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia. The PMIEF applies the credentials and application information of any student applying to all applicable scholarship opportunities, allowing you to apply for seven scholarships with one application.

Dwaraka R. Iyengar PMI Dallas Chapter Area Scholarship

The Dallas, Texas chapter of the PMI offers this scholarship of up to $2,500 each year. In order to qualify, a student must be pursuing a project management degree. They must also either live and study in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, or be a student who lives in the area and intends to pursue a project management degree. This latter qualification can include local students studying online.

The Gaylord Christle Scholarship

This PMI global scholarship awards up to $3,000 annually, and can be used by a student currently enrolled in a project management program at the bachelor's level or above, at an accredited college or university. Students do not need to be residents of the United States, allowing international students to attend American institutions online. The deadline for the application is May 1st of each year.

Online Bachelor's in Project Management 2022