Masters in Project Management in USA: Comprehensive Course Guide

Masters in project management in USA is a postgraduate degree program, which usually takes 2 years to complete, considering the full-time workload. The majority of the universities for Masters in Project Management in USA require international students to have a score of 83-86% in their bachelor's. The average annual cost of pursuing the program at some of the top universities in USA is around 19,305 to 91,575 USD which is equivalent to around 15.77 lakhs-74.81 lakhs INR. The program trains a person to lead a project through initiation, planning, execution, and control in a complex environment. 

This interdisciplinary degree trains a student to organize and plan the resources of a company in order to achieve time-constrained goals. The program includes the science of organizing elements along with IT tools based on project management that provides efficient results. Masters's in project management in USA can earn you as much as USD 150,000/year at an entry level. Some of the top recruiters for graduates of masters in project management are ALLDATA, Bain & Co., Amgen, CBRE, EY, LKAB, ScaleFlux, Provide Consulting, Trimark, etc. 

Masters in Project Management in USA: Top Universities

Some of the top business schools in USA and globally recognized universities offer masters in project management. The program is also available for study online. A full-time on-campus masters in project management in USA takes up to 2 years. The program is available under an MS as well MEng degree too. Listed below are the top universities offering the program along with the duration as well as fees:

Project management aspirants looking for a short-term program can also apply for certificate or diploma programs offered at US universities which not only can be completed in shorter duration but also cost lesser than a master's degree. 

Why study Masters in Project Management in USA?

• Many of the US universities such as Northwestern University and New York University rank among the global best for project management. 
• According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the United States is as low as 3.5%.
• As per BLS.USA management sector is expected to grow by 6% by 2024 and around 505,000 new job openings are expected for project managers in the upcoming seven years.
• The average salary earned by a Project Manager in the USA is 99,400 USD (81.06 lakhs INR)
• The salary gap between project management officials and non-project management officials in the country is a premium of 82%.
• The Project Management industry is expected to grow by 31.34% by 2027 in the United States.
• Project management programs at US universities are categorized as a STEM program allowing students to stay back in USA for up to 3 years for looking for work. 

Masters in Project Management in the USA - Admissions

Pursuing higher education in the USA, required international students to fulfill certain specific criteria. One of the major requirements that international students must fulfill is to have 16 years of education- 10+2+4, which means you are required to have a four-year bachelor’s degree. Applications for admissions top universitie in USA can be made through the university’s program page or PG application portal. Applications are usually invited for the fall semester. Some universities may accept applications for all three semesters. 

Masters in Project Management in USA: Eligibility

• For most of the universities, applicants must have a minimum of 3.0 on a scale of 4. The percentile equivalent to the same is 83-86 or a grade equivalent to B.
•  GMAT or GRE scores are mostly required for pursuing any MS in USA
• Resume (Work experience will be required by most of the universities).
• Proof of financial support- should state that you can afford your first-year tuition fees and living expenses.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Language proficiency: Non-native English speakers are required to submit proof of language proficiency for taking admissions in the USA.
  • You can submit: IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores
  • Complete a pre-course language program.
• I-20 forms issued by the university for acquiring the F-1 student visa. 
• A valid passport

The following table details the eligibility for masters in project management universities in USA: 

Letters of recommendation from academic and professional referees are also required along with the application package. Applicants must ensure that the referrals know them and are aware of their achievements. A prominent referral can help a student in getting shortlisted. 

Admission Decisions

International students must not that admission decisions for masters in project management in USA are mostly released in 2-8 weeks of receiving application package. Personal statement, resume, and LORs are an important part of the application package. In rare cases, a personal statement/an outstanding resume/string referrals can be of great advantage as it can help in attaining admission even if you lack in fulfilling any basic eligibility criteria of admission.  

US Student Visa

International students interested in pursuing a full-time academic course must apply for a US student visa. The following documents are required for the same: 

• A valid passport
• Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page)
• Application fee payment Receipt
• Form I-20 
• Proof of financial support.

Also Check:

The cost of studying in USA is a cumbersome expense to cater to. International students must be familiar with various expenses that they will suffer when planning to study abroad. Being familiar with these expenses allows them to plan ahead and look for funding if required.

Masters in Project Management in USA Fees

The cost of pursuing masters in project management in USA varies from university to university. The overall program fees range between:

Also Check: Affordable Universities for MS in USA.

Cost of Living in USA

An international student, living in the United States, will have to spend approximately 2500 USD- 4000 USD (2.03-3.26 lakhs INR) per month, in rent, food, and other necessities. Estimating the budget at the beginning of the month is always advisable in order to save yourself from overspending. The cost of living in the USA will depend on the lifestyle, city, and other factors. Some of the expenses are discussed below:

Also Check: Student Housing in the USA 

The accommodation expenditure depends upon a variety of factors such as the type of student accommodation in USA you choose - off-campus or on-campus. If it's an off-campus rented apartment, per se, the student will have to bear other utility bills as well.

Masters in Project Management in USA with Scholarships

International students are offered a varied number of scholarships to study in the US. Given below is a list of university-specific and general scholarships available to international students studying masters in project management in USA. Scholarships specific to Indian students are also offered in the USA. 

If you are unable to grab these scholarships, loans are also available for studying in the USA. In case you are looking for more scholarships to study masters in the USA, click here. 

Masters in Project Management in USA: Scope

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes project managers as a residual category of unclassified managers. One can easily land in various jobs in the USA with cushy median salaries post completion of this program. A Project Manager typically earns 46,700-157,000 USD per year depending upon various factors such as level of qualification, the city you’re working on, and the work experience. 

• A graduate student, right out of the university, with no years of experience, can earn a minimum of 53,900 USD.
• A master’s degree in Project Management helps you earn 31% more than a Bachelor’s degree.
• The salary of project manager is also entitled to a 12% increment, every 15 months.
• It is considered one of the highest-bonus paying jobs in the country as 85% of the project managers receive an average bonus of 5-9%, annually.

The table below throws light on the various job designations a graduate in masters in project management in USA can apply for along with the average salaries offered:

The job description of project managers involves defining project goals, creating a plan, monitoring progress, and closing out the project when completed. They are the ones responsible for communicating the company’s needs to their employees and discussing the demands of the employees with the senior board. The basic hourly wage at an initial stage for the job ranges between 59-74 USD per hour. With gain in experience a project manager can earn as much 200,000 USD per year (dependent on company and profile). Given below is a graphical representation of the rise in salaries with experience:

Also Check: High paying jobs in USA

The salary trends of the project managers in the United States has seen overall growth in the past years. The pattern was 4% from 2016 to 2017, 3% from 2021 to 2022, and so on. With the expectation of the Project Management industry growing to almost 31.34% by 2027, consideration of pursuing a masters in project management in USA is an apt choice. 

Masters in Project Management in USA v/s Masters in Project Management in Canada

The core curriculum for MS in Project Management in the USA is made to give you a solid and comprehensive grounding in project management that will support the work you do in the specialisation courses and position you for a variety of project management career options.

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