Whether you are a recent high school graduate stepping into the workforce or a seasoned professional seeking a career transition, obtaining an online project management certificate can be a valuable asset.
Project management certificates are specialized educational programs aimed at jumpstarting a career in project management, a rapidly expanding field in the United States. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), it is projected that by 2030, the global economy will require an additional 25 million project professionals to address the industry’s talent shortage.
These certificate programs typically cover essential topics such as project initiation, planning, budgeting, risk management, and execution. Upon completion, graduates who satisfy the necessary work experience and eligibility criteria may be eligible to sit for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) exam or the Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam, both administered by PMI.
In this article, we present the top 10 online project management certificates for the year 2024. Keep reading to discover the leading institutions, including details on tuition fees, credit requirements, and key course features.
Methodology Overview
We evaluated 23 accredited nonprofit colleges offering online undergraduate project management certificates in the United States based on 12 key data points related to credibility, affordability, student outcomes, and student experience. Information for these metrics was sourced from reputable outlets such as [specific sources] as of February 2024.
The schools were assessed using the following criteria:
Student Outcomes:
- Graduation rate within eight years of the standard timeline
- Graduation rate among Pell Grant recipients
- Retention rate
- Discrepancy in graduation rates between Pell Grant recipients and the overall student body
- Transferability of certificate credits towards a degree program
Student Experience:
- Ratio of students to faculty members
- Diversity in socioeconomic backgrounds
- Availability of the entire program’s coursework online (excluding orientations, fieldwork, and labs)
- Percentage of undergraduate students engaged in distance learning courses
Credibility:
- Full accreditation
- Nonprofit status
Affordability:
- Tuition cost per credit
The top 10 institutions featured in this ranking achieved a final score of 79% or higher based on the outlined criteria.
For a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please refer to the complete list of methodologies [link provided].