Construction manager education requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a construction manager?

You typically need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, engineering, or a related field to be a construction manager. Holding a bachelor's degree is not necessary to become a construction manager, but it will make your earning potential higher and there are many companies, especially larger firms, that will require you to hold a degree. Along with holding a degree, construction managers will need to have lots of on-the-job experience and training. Typically, new construction managers will be hired in assistant roles working under an experienced manager. This process can last two years. Earning a master's degree in business management or a related field could expedite this process. There are also certifications available that can be beneficial for potential construction managers. These can help accelerate your training and make you a more desirable candidate. There are also certifications that can be earned throughout your career as a construction manager.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a construction manager. Construction managers usually study business, civil engineering, or construction management. 61% of construction managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 32,027 real construction manager resumes to see exactly what construction manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for construction managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online construction manager courses to help get the education required to be a construction manager.

There are certain construction manager certifications that you should consider. These construction manager certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Construction Manager (CCM).

What education do you need to become a construction manager?

What degree do you need to be a construction manager?

The most common degree for construction managers is bachelor's degree, with 61% of construction managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 9%.

Bachelor's, 61%

Associate, 18%

Master's, 9%

High School Diploma, 7%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a construction manager?

You should major in business to become a construction manager. 22% of construction managers major in business. Other common majors for a construction manager include civil engineering and construction management.

Business, 22%

Civil Engineering, 14%

Construction Management, 13%

Architecture, 7%

Other Majors, 44%

Most common colleges for construction managers

Construction managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Texas A&M; University, and University of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for construction managers in the US based on their resumes.

Construction manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	9.78%
Texas A&M University	8.85%
University of Houston	6.79%
Purdue University	6.04%
Pennsylvania State University	5.86%

Show more common construction manager colleges

Best majors for construction managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	21.8%
2	Civil Engineering	14.5%
3	Construction Management	13.5%
4	Architecture	7.2%
5	Mechanical Engineering	5.0%

Show more common construction manager majors

Best colleges for construction managers

The best colleges for construction managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A construction manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for construction managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become construction managers.

1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

7. Texas A&M University

College Station, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$11,870

Enrollment

53,194

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

20 best online courses for construction managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Construction Management

The Construction Management specialization is curated for professionals in the construction and civil engineering industry looking to advance their careers. Through this specialization, students will gain comprehensive industry knowledge along with the latest trends and development within the industry. This 5-course specialization will cover the major facets of construction management including project initiation and planning, scheduling techniques and procedures, cost estimating and control,...

2. Construction Cost Estimating and Management

4.6

(642)

Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...

3. Mastering Construction/Project Management

4.2

(659)

Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...

4. Contracts Management in Construction Projects

4.3

(730)

Contracts Management, Contract Administration, FIDIC, Bank Guarantees, Contracts, Letter Drafting, Quantity Surveying...

5. Construction Procurement Management

4.5

(300)

A course on procurement designed for engineers new to the infrastructure/construction industry...

6. Construction Claims Management - (9 PDUs)

4.3

(302)

Construction Claims Management ... Step-by-step from Definition to Submital...

7. The Complete Guide to Construction Management

4.2

(692)

The Most Essential Course for EVERY Construction Project!...

8. Construction Project Scheduling

4.5

(346)

Learn the tools and techniques used by construction management professionals to ensure projects finish on time...

9. Construction Claims Management

4.4

(511)

This Master Course will provide you with a professional claims management system for all your construction projects...

10. Diploma in Basics of Civil Engineering for Construction

4.3

(294)

Practical Course to Gain Quick Knowledge in Civil Engineering & Get Entry Level Jobs in Construction as Freshers...

11. Construction Methodology Basics in Civil Engineering

4.5

(1,001)

New Home Construction & Building construction along with Home Repair ,Estimation & Plumbing With Video Step By Step...

12. Projects Cost Management, Estimating, Budgeting and Control.

4.1

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Learn how to estimate costs for any project, how to determine budget and how to use Earned Value Management tools. 3 PDU...

13. IT Project Budget & Cost Management

4.4

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Project Management tips to manage a million dollar IT Project budget from start to finish...

14. Real Estate Asset Management 101

4.6

(1,625)

Real Estate Asset Management Training From Acquisition, To Ownership, Through Sale For Profitable Real Estate Investing...

15. Microsoft Excel for Construction Management

4.5

(464)

Learn to use Excel as a construction professional, start at the basics all the way to advanced formulas and visuals...

16. Construction Site Electrical System Design

4.6

(454)

Learn how to design a safe, flexible and durable electrical system for any construction site...

17. Construction Delay Analysis Techniques (Incl. TIA) - MSP

4.8

(272)

MS Project Based Construction Delay Analysis Training By N.M.Raj, An Internationally Renowned Claims Consultant...

18. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

4.6

(465)

A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

19. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management

4.4

(357)

Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...

20. Quantity Surveying Building Estimation BBS with Excel & CAD

4.4

(1,052)

Quantity Surveying, Construction Estimation ,Quantity survey ,Cost Estimation ,Civil engineering, Building Estimation...

Top 10 most affordable universities for construction managers

The most affordable schools for construction managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for construction managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for construction managers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for construction managers

The hardest universities for construction managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for construction managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for construction managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,339

8. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for construction managers

The easiest schools for construction managers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a construction manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for construction managers.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Scranton

Dunmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,056

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

Average construction manager salary by education level

According to our data, construction managers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $94,890 annually. Construction managers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $89,231.

Construction manager education level	Construction manager salary
Master's Degree	$94,890
High School Diploma or Less	$74,805
Bachelor's Degree	$89,231
Doctorate Degree	$87,380
Some College/ Associate Degree	$77,979

Construction manager education FAQs

What degree do you need to be a construction manager?

What is the best college for Construction Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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