Six Arizona schools offer construction management credentials profiled on this site: four public (Arizona State University, Maricopa Community Colleges, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona), one private nonprofit (Grand Canyon University), and one for-profit (Arizona Automotive Institute). Two schools offer certificates, two offer associate degrees, four offer bachelor’s degrees, and one offers a master’s. ASU’s and NAU’s bachelor’s degrees are on ACCE’s accredited list; UA’s civil engineering B.S. with a construction emphasis is ABET EAC accredited.
Estimated in-state costs at public schools run about $2.0K to $7.9K for a certificate, $6.0K to $7.3K for an associate degree (Maricopa’s in-county rate), $57.5K to $68.2K for a bachelor’s, and $19.2K to $22.5K for a master’s. Arizona Automotive Institute’s A.A.S. costs about $36.8K and GCU’s B.S. about $60.4K to $71.8K, the same for every student.
Arizona Construction Management Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Credentials | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Tuition | Program Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Automotive Institute | Glendale, AZ | Associate | Campus | 92 | $36,840 | None stated |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | Bachelor's, Master's | Campus, Online | 30–120 | $19,230–$68,182 | ACCE |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | Bachelor's | Campus, Online | 120 | $60,400–$71,760 | None stated |
| Maricopa Community Colleges | Mesa, AZ | Associate, Certificate | Hybrid | 20–75 | $1,970–$7,335 | None stated |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | Bachelor's | Campus | 120 | $57,508 | ACCE |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | Bachelor's, Certificate | Campus | 12–132 | $7,853–$62,824 | ABET EAC |
Costs are estimated program totals (credits × per-credit tuition plus mandatory fees) from each school’s profile. Ranges cover all of a school’s construction management pathways.
Best Arizona Construction Management Programs by Goal
- Lowest-cost credential: Maricopa Community Colleges‘ 20- to 29-credit certificate at Mesa costs about $2.0K to $2.8K at the in-county rate.
- Low-cost start toward ASU: Maricopa’s A.A.S. Specialization II is mapped to ASU’s B.S. in Construction Management and Technology, with trigonometry, physics, statics, and surveying. About $6.0K to $7.3K in-county; no admission guarantee is stated.
- Lowest-cost ACCE bachelor’s: Northern Arizona University’s B.S. in Construction Management costs about $57.5K in-state, on campus in Flagstaff only. Its internship is an elective.
- Required internships, campus or online: Arizona State University’s ACCE B.S. requires two 320-hour summer internships. It costs about $61.1K in-state at Tempe or $68.2K online.
- Nonresidents wanting an ACCE degree: NAU’s B.S. runs about $75.0K out-of-state for fall 2027 starts, and ASU’s online B.S. about $87.9K. ASU Tempe costs about $159.7K.
- Engineering and PE route: University of Arizona’s ABET EAC B.S. in Civil Engineering carries a construction engineering and management emphasis and requires calculus through differential equations. About $62.8K in-state.
- Tradespeople adding management: Arizona Automotive Institute’s A.A.S. in Construction & Trades Management builds on its welding, electrical, or HVAC diploma. About $36.8K for every student, 18 months, in Glendale.
- Business-side B.S. at one national rate: Grand Canyon University’s B.S. costs about $60.4K online for students in any state and requires 300 industry hours. It is not ACCE accredited.
- Graduate degree: ASU’s 30-credit M.S. costs about $19.2K online for every U.S. student, or $22.5K in-state at Tempe.
Arizona Construction Management Programs by Degree Level
Certificates
| School | Program | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa | Certificate of Completion in Construction Management | Hybrid | 20-29 | $2.0K-$2.8K (in-county) |
| University of Arizona | Undergraduate Certificate in Construction Engineering Management | Campus | 12 | $7.9K |
Maricopa’s certificate is offered at Mesa and includes CON181 Cost Estimating. UA’s 12-unit certificate is an add-on for UA students outside the civil engineering major, taken on campus in Tucson.
Associate Degrees
| School | Program | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa | A.A.S. in Construction Management (Specialization I or II) | Hybrid | 61-75 | $6.0K-$7.3K (in-county) |
| Arizona Automotive Institute | A.A.S. in Construction & Trades Management | Campus | 92 quarter | $36.8K (all students) |
- Cost: AAI’s degree costs about $29.5K more than the top of Maricopa’s in-county range. AAI’s price includes its trade diploma, tools, and books.
- Focus: Maricopa’s Specialization I covers cost estimating and technical math; Specialization II follows ASU’s transfer prerequisites. AAI pairs a full trade diploma with five management and office-technology courses.
- Math ceiling: Maricopa’s Specialization II reaches trigonometry. AAI’s College Mathematics sits below College Algebra.
You Should Know
- Neither associate degree requires an internship.
- Maricopa’s $97 rate is for Maricopa County residents. Other Arizona residents pay $372 per credit (per Maricopa).
- AAI says the program is in person only, while state training listings call it hybrid.
Bachelor’s Degrees
| School | Program | Format | Accreditation | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | B.S. in Construction Management (120 credits) | Campus | ACCE | $57.5K |
| Grand Canyon University | B.S. in Construction Management, online (120 credits) | Online | None stated | $60.4K (all students) |
| Arizona State University | B.S. in Construction Management and Technology, Tempe (120 credits) | Campus | ACCE, ABET ANSAC (per ASU) | $61.1K |
| University of Arizona | B.S. in Civil Engineering, CEM emphasis (128 credits) | Campus | ABET EAC | $62.8K |
| Arizona State University | B.S. in Construction Management and Technology, online (120 credits) | Online | ACCE, ABET ANSAC (per ASU) | $68.2K |
| Grand Canyon University | B.S. in Construction Management, Phoenix campus (120 credits) | Campus | None stated | $71.8K (all students) |
- Field experience: ASU requires two 320-hour internships (640 hours). GCU requires 300 industry hours with no stated course credit. NAU offers an elective 192-hour internship, and UA offers an optional paid internship from freshman year.
- Math and engineering content: UA requires calculus through differential equations. NAU requires MAT 125 plus two physics courses. ASU’s first math course is MAT 170 Precalculus. GCU tops out at intermediate-level algebra.
- Management depth: UA’s construction emphasis is about four courses inside a civil engineering degree. GCU’s major has seven construction courses and nine business courses.
- Out-of-state cost: GCU online runs about $60.4K, NAU $75.0K (fall 2027 start), ASU online $87.9K, ASU Tempe $159.7K, and UA $187.8K.
You Should Know
- NAU’s $75.0K nonresident figure uses its Flagstaff Advantage Rate for students starting in fall 2027; fall 2026 starters pay more (per NAU).
- NAU awards no transfer credit for its 300-level and higher construction courses.
- GCU says its B.S. is not designed to lead to licensure in any state.
Master’s Degrees
| School | Program | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | M.S. in Construction Management and Technology (online) | Online | 30 | $19.2K (all U.S. students) |
| Arizona State University | M.S. in Construction Management and Technology (Tempe) | Campus | 30 | $22.5K |
ASU’s online M.S. costs about $3.2K less than the Tempe version for Arizona residents and about $31.9K less for nonresidents. ACCE’s master’s list includes no Arizona program.
Construction Management Programs by Arizona Region
Phoenix Metro
- Arizona State University, Tempe (bachelor’s, master’s; also online)
- Maricopa Community Colleges, Mesa (certificate, associate)
- Grand Canyon University, Phoenix (bachelor’s; also online)
- Arizona Automotive Institute, Glendale (associate)
Tucson
- University of Arizona, Tucson (bachelor’s, certificate)
Northern Arizona
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (bachelor’s)
How a Degree Counts Toward an Arizona Contractor License
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses anyone who builds, bids, or supervises construction for pay (A.R.S. 32-1101). Minor jobs under $1,000, with no permit required, are exempt (A.R.S. 32-1121). General classes include B-1 General Commercial, B-2 Small Commercial, B General Residential, the dual KB-1 and KB-2, and A General Engineering.
- Experience: Each general class requires four years of hands-on or management experience for the qualifying party, per the ROC classification table.
- College credit: Technical training at an accredited college can count toward that experience, up to two of the four years (A.R.S. 32-1122(E)(1)).
- Exams: Applicants pass an online Statutes and Rules exam, which covers business administration and lien law, plus a PSI trade exam, each at 70% (A.A.C. R4-9-106).
No exam waiver for degree holders was found. The trade exam can be waived only for someone who served as a qualifying party in a comparable class within five years, per the ROC application page. The ROC may also waive experience based on a recent trade exam or a valid national certification (R4-9-106(F)).
You Should Know
- The Registrar decides what education counts. None of the six profiled schools states a specific experience credit for its degree.
- Bond amounts differ by class, and residential contractors also pay into the Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund.
- GCU states its B.S. is not designed to lead to licensure; ask the ROC how your coursework would count.
Transferring from an Arizona Community College to a University
AZTransfer runs the statewide system. The Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), 32 to 35 credits from catalog year 2026, transfers as a block to ASU, NAU, and UA. An AGEC with a 2.5 GPA guarantees admission to the university, though not to a specific major (AZTransfer policy). The 60- to 64-credit Arizona transfer degrees (A.A., A.S., A.Bus.) also transfer as a block; an A.A.S. does not.
- A.A.S. first: Maricopa’s Specialization II maps courses to ASU’s B.S. Separately, ASU’s Bachelor of Applied Science accepts up to 75 credits from an Arizona construction A.A.S., but in majors such as project management, not construction management.
- Northern Arizona route: Coconino Community College’s Construction Technology Management A.A. is designed for transfer into NAU’s B.S., per Coconino. CCC2NAU offers joint admission with Coconino.
- Prerequisites: Plan math early. ASU starts at MAT 170 Precalculus, NAU requires MAT 125 and two physics courses, and UA requires calculus. ASU’s transfer GPA for the major is 3.0, or 2.5 with 2.75 in key courses (per ASU).
You Should Know
- NAU does not accept transfer credit for its 300-level and higher construction courses.
- Other Arizona colleges list construction credentials not profiled here, including Arizona Western College’s Construction Trades Management A.A.S. and Coconino’s Construction Technology A.A.S. and certificate.
Bottom Line
Among the schools on this page, Arizona’s options split into four price tiers: Maricopa’s certificate and A.A.S. at about $2.0K to $7.3K in-county, ASU’s M.S. at about $19.2K to $22.5K, AAI’s A.A.S. at about $36.8K, and bachelor’s degrees at about $57.5K to $71.8K for Arizona residents.
- Accreditation: ASU and NAU hold ACCE-listed bachelor’s degrees, and UA the ABET EAC degree.
- Format: ASU’s B.S. and M.S. and GCU’s B.S. are offered fully online. NAU and UA are campus only.
- Internship: ASU requires two internships and GCU requires 300 industry hours.
- Next step: Open each linked profile and confirm tuition and admission dates with the school.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many construction management programs are in Arizona?
This page compares nine construction management credentials at six Arizona schools: four public, one private nonprofit, and one for-profit.
Which Arizona construction management programs are ACCE accredited?
Arizona State University’s B.S. in Construction Management and Technology and Northern Arizona University’s B.S. in Construction Management.
Can I study construction management online in Arizona?
Yes. ASU offers its ACCE B.S. and its M.S. online, and GCU offers its B.S. online at one rate for every state.
What is the cheapest construction management program in Arizona?
Among the schools on this page, Maricopa’s certificate costs least, at about $2.0K in-county. The lowest-cost bachelor’s for Arizona residents is NAU’s at about $57.5K.
Does a construction management degree help me get an Arizona contractor license?
Partly. Arizona law lets accredited college training count for up to two of the four required years of experience, but no degree waives the licensing exams.
Program data verified October 2026 from each school’s profile. Licensing and transfer information from the Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32, Arizona Administrative Code Title 4 Chapter 9, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, AZTransfer, ASU, NAU, and Coconino Community College.