Controls project manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a controls project manager. Controls project managers usually study business, accounting, or civil engineering. 69% of controls project managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,710 real controls project manager resumes to see exactly what controls project manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for controls project managers are the Texas A&M; University and the Texas A&M; University.

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

There are certain controls project manager certifications that you should consider. These controls project manager certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

What education do you need to become a controls project manager?

What degree do you need to be a controls project manager?

The most common degree for controls project managers is bachelor's degree, with 69% of controls project managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 10%.

Bachelor's, 69%

Master's, 17%

Associate, 10%

High School Diploma, 1%

Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a controls project manager?

You should major in business to become a controls project manager. 27% of controls project managers major in business. Other common majors for a controls project manager include accounting and civil engineering.

Business, 27%

Accounting, 12%

Civil Engineering, 8%

Construction Management, 7%

Other Majors, 46%

Most common colleges for controls project managers

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

Controls project manager common college	Percentages
Texas A&M University	10.14%
University of Phoenix	9.78%
University of Houston	8.70%
Arizona State University	6.88%
Pennsylvania State University	6.16%

Show more common controls project manager colleges

Best majors for controls project managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	27.3%
2	Accounting	11.8%
3	Civil Engineering	8.2%
4	Construction Management	6.5%
5	Finance	6.3%

Show more common controls project manager majors

Best colleges for controls project managers

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

A controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project managers

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

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

3. Project Management: Cost & Schedule Monitoring using EVM

4.3

(1,114)

Earned Value Management, Project Management, Cost Control & Monitor, Budget, Schedule & Cost Variance, Performance Index...

4. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers

4.6

(494)

Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...

5. Project Time & Budget Control using EVM tool

4.5

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6. Project Schedule: Monitor & Control Specialist (Accredited)

4.6

(515)

Schedule Management: Monitor & Control Schedule, Analyze Schedule, Solve Project Schedule Problems Earn CPDs & PDUs...

7. Learn Estimating & Cost Control

(345)

Develop a good practical understanding of best practice estimating and cost control on building & construction Projects...

8. Project Management Essentials

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(15,814)

A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...

9. Master Course in Project Management 2.0

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Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...

10. Construction Cost Estimating and Management

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

11. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design

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Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...

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Project Management...

13. Project Risk Management

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Practice of identifying , analyzing, prioritizing and mitigating risks...

14. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

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Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

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Mastering Microsoft Excel for Project Management: Controlling, Tracking, and Reporting...

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17. Project Management with Earned Value Management (EVM) 9 PDUs

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Project Management with Earned Value Management Earned Value Management for PMP Certification EVM with MS Project...

18. Mastering Construction/Project Management

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

19. Supply Chain Management: Inventory Management and Control

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Inventory Management in Supply Chain Management & Inventory Control in Warehouse Logistics & Supply chain Management...

20. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One

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Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...

Top 10 most affordable universities for controls project managers

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

If the best universities for controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project managers

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

Some great schools for controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project managers

The easiest schools for controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project 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 controls project manager salary by education level

Controls project managers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $132,644 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, controls project managers earn a median annual income of $125,177 compared to $122,729 for controls project managers with an Doctorate degree.

Controls project manager education level	Controls project manager salary
Master's Degree	$132,644
High School Diploma or Less	$106,013
Bachelor's Degree	$125,177
Doctorate Degree	$122,729
Some College/ Associate Degree	$110,246

Controls project manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Controls Project Managers?

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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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