PMP Certification Prep – Top 18 Project Management Universities

Are you looking for a career in project management? Focusing on your education is an excellent place to start. Having the skills and knowledge under your belt to move forward with certifications from one of the best schools for pmp certification will allow you to significantly advance your career.

If you are researching schools that offer project management certification, you are in the right place. In this article we will explore the 18 best project management programs and universities for students looking to further their studies in this exciting field.

Did you know that you don’t need a university program in project management to break into this lucrative field?  With just a secondary school education and no work experience, you can earn your Certified Associate of Project Management or CAPM certification.  If you already have a four year degree and some experience leading projects, you may qualify to apply for your Project Management Professional or PMP certification.  

The CAPM and PMP certifications are internationally recognized credentials and job seekers with those certifications are highly sought after by employers.  Even if you complete one of the university programs at one of the project management universities we’ve listed here, you’ll still need to take the exam to secure your PMP or CAPM certification.   Check out our article on Determining your Eligibility Requirements for PMP Certification to see if you qualify already.

Still looking for a university program?  Take a read through our list of the top 18 project management universities below.

Project Management Universities #1 – Brandeis University

Brandeis University is a private research university perfect for anyone with a passion for project management. While completing this program, you will take classes such as The Human Side of Project Management, Agile Project Management, Communication of Effective Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, The New Economy, and more! What’s more, is that you can complete your Master’s in Project and Program Management from Brandeis University completely online if you are looking to expand your education.

Address: Waltham, Mass

Acceptance Rate: 33.4%

Project Management Universities #2 – Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University has a fantastic online PMP certification for professionals aspiring to learn about leading, planning for, and completing projects. Not only will students come away with a certification, but they will also have a well-rounded understanding of cost analysis, risk analytics, general economics, and strategic communication skills. This PMP certification costs $627 per credit hour for a total of 15 hours. The course can be completed in as little as 6 months, and graduates will earn an average of $77,420 median salary after course completion.

Address: Manchester, NH

Acceptance Rate: 93.5%

Project Management Universities #3 – Northeastern University

At Northeastern University, students will be able to complete a BS in Project Management in the school of business at the Boston campus or as an online learning platform. This program is focused on the functional, technical, managerial, and strategic expertise needed to create and complete a high-quality project. Plus, who wouldn’t want to learn in the amazing historical city of Boston, Mass! This is one of the best project management schools.

Address: Boston, MA

Acceptance Rate: 20.5%

Project Management Universities #4 – Boston University

Boston University prioritizes project management as a critical program for aspiring business professionals with a passion for leading. All courses are taught by highly-qualified professors who have experience in the field. This is an extremely cross-functional discipline, and the skills learned from this program can be applied to a variety of industries.

Address: Boston, MA

Acceptance Rate: 20.1%

Project Management Universities #5 – Penn State

Penn State offers a variety of different ways to get exposure to the world of project management. Students can take both undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as complete a variety of certifications at all different levels. Project management experience allows you to learn the best ways to complete deliverables that are on time, in-budget, and meet the complete scope of your customer’s needs.

Address: State College, PN

Acceptance Rate: 58.7%

Project Management Universities #6 – George Washington University

George Washington University offers a unique graduate certificate in Project Management that can be completed online or in the classroom. You will have a required set of courses plus a unique list of electives you can choose from. For example, students will be able to explore Risk Management, Cost Estimation and Control, Planning and Scheduling, and more.

Address: Washington, DC

Acceptance Rate: 43%

Project Management Universities #7 – Georgetown University

Georgetown University knows that as businesses grow and develop, they rely more and more on project managers to help keep goals within scope. This is especially true as businesses transition to a remote workforce and requires creative people to help teams adapt. Georgetown understands the importance of diversity and sharing of experience, making their learning environment unique.

Address: Washington, DC

Acceptance Rate: 16.8%

Project Management Universities #8 – New York University

New York University’s project management program offers learning experiences for professionals just starting out or looking to refresh their pre-existing experiences. Their courses are focused on preparing students for exams and certifications that come after program completion, allowing them to achieve success in the real world shortly after graduation.

Address: New York, New York

Acceptance Rate: 21.1%

Project Management Universities #9 – Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology offers a variety of learning opportunities for students at all knowledge levels. If you are interested in exploring different levels of course and curriculum difficulty, these programs would be a great choice! Students will learn how to balance critical tradeoffs of time, cost, and scope to meet the expectations of clients.

Address: Rochester, NY

Acceptance Rate: 73.9%

Project Management Universities #10 – Northwestern University

Northwestern allows you to customize your course schedule in order to align with your current lifestyle needs as a professional and a student. Students must successfully complete the required courses and at least 3 of the elective courses listed as part of the programming.

Address: Evanston, IL

Acceptance Rate: 9.3%

Project Management Universities #11 – DePaul University

DePaul’s project management programming encourages students to look beyond ordinary business functions. This program focuses on concentrating on managing, monitoring, and controlling assets in order to deliver customer satisfaction. This program is extremely collaborative and encourages open discussion and hands-on experience.

Address: Sheffield, Chicago

Acceptance Rate: 70.2%

Project Management Universities #12 – Bryant University

Bryant University is known for its incredible business program. They offer hands-on learning experiences and encourage internship opportunities for students who want a great shot at a job after school. Bryant also offers a winter-term program specifically catered towards design thinking and innovation, making this educational opportunity extremely unique!

Address: Smithfield, RI

Acceptance Rate: 75.8%

Project Management Universities #13 – Bentley University

Bentley University is commonly known as Bryant’s rival! This is a business-focused school with rigorous academic programming tailored to aspiring business men and women. This program allows students to learn basic business functions and how to best make organizations operate. Students are able to follow a general management major or choose a more specific discipline to specialize in.

Address: Waltham, MA

Acceptance Rate: 57.8%

Project Management Universities #14 – University of Connecticut

Go blue and white! If you are a fan of sports, big schools, and incredible academics, the University of Connecticut is the place to be. This project management program offers a unique blend of management and business data analytics for a well-rounded skillset upon graduation.

Address: Storrs, CN

Acceptance Rate: 56.1%

Project Management Universities #15 – University of California

The University of California offers a variety of courses and certifications perfect for any aspiring business professionals who want options when it comes to courses and the time frame for completion. The median salary of graduates who complete these programs is $107,000 per year. This is a 9.8% projected growth stat!

Address: Berkeley, CA

Acceptance Rate: 14.3%

Project Management Universities #16 – Colorado State University

Colorado State University offers a unique program for students interested in furthering their passions in the world of project management. Their online project management certifictaion is taught by the same professors that teach on-site at their Denver campus. However, this program is condensed into a 16-week cadence for students who are working or have opportunities outside of the classroom. A degree in project management can be used in various industries, such as archiestcture, construction, engineering, finance, government, manufacturing, and more.

Address: Fort Collins, CO

Acceptance Rate: 83.5%

Project Management Universities #17 – Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University’s programming prepares graduates to manage local, outsourced and global projects. All course materials are made to help prepare students for future exams and certifications to help them further their careers in project management. If you are interested in finding your next stepping stone on your project management career, Golden Gate University is  a perfect place to explore.

Address: San Franciso, CA

Acceptance Rate: 61.3%

Project Management Universities #18 – Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University offers a variety of offerings catered towards students interested in the project management cycle. They offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced course offerings for students at every level. With both an undergraduate and graduate program, students can start and finish their project management academic career all at the Rhode Island campus. Once students have completed the program, they will be eligible to become a Certified Associate Project Manager from the Project Management Institute.

Address: Providence, RI

Acceptance Rate: 36.5%

Conclusion

We hope this article helps to inspire and inform you as you plan for the next part of your career in project management. Having the skills outlined in these programs can help you be prepared to enter virtually any industry, making the time and money spent well worth it. Check out the resources on our site for top preparation resources and tips to help you succeed.

Want to skip ahead in your career without going through a lengthy (and costly) university program?    Did you know that the Certified Associate in Project Management or CAPM certification doesn’t require any work experience (unlike the PMP certification).  There are some great (and inexpensive) online courses that will satisfy the Project Management Institute’s project management education requirement and prepare you for the CAPM and PMP certification exam.

Some of these online courses include a pass guarantee for the actual certification exam.  Of the online courses available, we strongly recommend Brain Sensei’s Self-Paced CAPM Exam Prep course or the Brain Sensei Self-Paced PMP Exam Prep course.  They include a pass guarantee, money-back guarantee and access to the entire course with unlimited practice questions for an entire year.  For those who prefer the guidance of an instructor, they also have live virtual classes. 

Is it better to get your MBA or PMP?  Watch this video and find out.