U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, Stock Development Department of Construction Management • Fort Myers, FL • Campus • $203.94/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
Florida Gulf Coast University offers 2 construction management pathways:
- B.S. in Construction Management (B.S.C.M.)
- M.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Concentration
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S.C.M. | $24.5K in-state / $112.1K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters + 1 summer) | 120 |
| M.S. | $11.2K in-state / $43.2K out-of-state | 1.5 years (4 semesters) | 30 |
Tuition estimates use Florida Gulf Coast University’s current per-credit tuition plus mandatory fees.
- Why choose it: The B.S.C.M. is ACCE-accredited and starts construction coursework in the first fall. The program reports that about 85% of students receive job offers before graduation, with an average alumni salary of $72,293.
- Trade-off: Most upper-level BCN courses run once a year, and 14 courses carry a lab component in Fort Myers. A failed or skipped course can push graduation back a full year.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S.C.M.; M.S. in Civil Engineering (Construction Concentration) |
| Format | Campus (B.S.C.M.); Campus with some remote classes (M.S.) |
| Campus Location | Main campus, Fort Myers |
| Credit Hours | 120 (B.S.C.M.); 30 (M.S.) |
| Internship | Elective in the B.S.C.M. (BCN 4949, 1-3 credits); not required |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE (B.S.C.M. only) |
| Software Taught | Building Information Modeling course required; specific software not named |
| Industry Certifications | OSHA 30-hour card earned during the B.S.C.M. |
| Transfer Pathway | St. Petersburg College A.A. transfer plan into the B.S.C.M. (Fall 2026 catalog) |
| Math Requirement | Precalculus (MAC 1147) plus College Physics I with lab |
| Tuition | $203.94/credit undergraduate; $373.38/credit graduate (in-state, incl. fees) |
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (B.S.C.M.)
The estimated tuition for the B.S.C.M. at Florida Gulf Coast University is approximately $24,472.80 (120 credits at $203.94/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years, including one required summer term.
B.S.C.M. Curriculum
The degree combines 38 credits of state common prerequisites, 54 credits of required major courses, 6 credits of restricted electives, and general education. Students can declare the major on admission to FGCU; there is no separate limited-access application.
- Common prerequisites: Precalculus, College Physics I with lab, Statistical Methods, Environmental Geology, Financial Accounting, Macroeconomics, and Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
- Early BCN courses: Construction Seminar, Construction Drawing, Construction Materials, Construction Mechanics
- Estimating and controls: Construction Estimating I and II, Construction Planning and Control, Construction Project Management
- Business of construction: Construction Finance, Construction Law and Contracts, Principles of Management
- Technical and systems: Structures for Construction, Temporary Structures, Electrical Systems, Mechanical Systems, Methods and Equipment
- Technology: Building Information Modeling, Graphic Communication in Construction
- Sustainability and safety: Sustainable Approach to Construction; Construction Safety, Health and Environment
- Capstone: Industry-provided, industry-mentored senior project
- Restricted electives (choose 6 credits): Roofing Construction, Virtual Design and Construction, AI for Construction Management, Building Energy Modeling, Special Topics, Internship
The management side is well covered. Finance, law and contracts, scheduling, and two estimating courses are all required, which matches the program’s stated outcomes on cost control and project delivery. The math bar is higher than at two-year Florida programs: Precalculus includes trigonometry, and a College Algebra-only A.S. graduate will need to make it up before the junior-level structures sequence.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Most upper-level BCN courses are offered once a year. Fall-only examples: Estimating I, BIM, Methods and Equipment, Construction Finance, Mechanical Systems, Project Management. Spring-only examples: Estimating II, Structures, Electrical Systems, Safety, Planning and Control, Law and Contracts.
- BCN 3590 Sustainable Approach to Construction and BCN 4787 Capstone must be taken at FGCU, along with 30 of the last 60 credits.
- ⚠️ The catalog program page lists Precalculus at 5 credits; FGCU’s MAC course listing shows 4. The published degree map also sums to 122 credits against a 120-credit requirement. Confirm with an advisor.
- A service-learning requirement and a civic literacy requirement apply, plus Florida’s summer enrollment requirement.
B.S.C.M. Internship and Field Experience
- Internship is an elective, not a requirement (BCN 4949 Internship in Construction, 1-3 credits, counts toward restricted electives)
- Required hours, paid status, and placement support: Not clearly stated
- Senior capstone projects are provided and mentored by industry partners
- Guest lectures from industry experts in nearly all courses; industry-led framing, drywall, and masonry demonstrations
- Curriculum reviewed by the Construction Industry Advisory Board (CIAB)
- Student chapters: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and Women in Construction (WIC)
Field experience is built around the capstone and advisory-board ties rather than a mandated co-op. The program’s 85% pre-graduation offer rate suggests most students find internships anyway, and alumni accounts describe year-long internships converting to project engineer roles. Students who need a guaranteed, credit-bearing placement should plan the BCN 4949 elective early, since nothing forces it into the schedule.
B.S.C.M. Admissions
Admission is to the university; any degree-seeking FGCU student in good academic standing can declare the major.
- Majors must meet academic milestones set out in the Construction Management Student Guidebook
- Minimum grade of C in every common prerequisite and major course
- Transfer students: St. Petersburg College offers an A.A. transfer plan built around FGCU’s construction management prerequisites, effective Fall 2026
- Florida college A.A. graduates should complete the common prerequisites (including Precalculus and College Physics I with lab) before transferring
M.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Concentration
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Concentration at Florida Gulf Coast University is approximately $11,201.40 (30 credits at $373.38/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 1.5 years (derived: 30 credits at 9 credits per semester, about 4 semesters).
M.S. Curriculum
The degree is a civil engineering master’s with a 12-credit construction concentration, not a standalone construction management master’s.
- Thesis option: Advanced Engineering Analysis, Thesis 1, Thesis 2, plus 9 credits of restricted electives
- Non-thesis option: Advanced Engineering Analysis, Research Methods, Project, plus 9 credits of restricted electives
- Construction concentration (12 credits): Comprehensive Estimating, Advanced Planning and Control, Advanced Construction Finance, Equipment and Methods
- Construction-related restricted electives: Advanced Construction Technology, Building Energy Modeling, Construction Management, Construction Law, Construction Methods Improvements, Engineering Project Management
A student can fill most of the 30 credits with construction courses by choosing BCN electives. Advanced Engineering Analysis is required in both options, so the degree carries more quantitative weight than a business-style M.C.M.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- FGCU’s department pages call this degree a “Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.),” while the catalog names it “Civil Engineering (M.S.).” The diploma title should be confirmed.
- Courses used as restricted electives cannot also count toward the concentration.
- A combined B.S.-to-M.S. option lets students take up to 9 graduate credits as undergraduates; FGCU’s materials describe it for civil and environmental engineering majors, and B.S.C.M. eligibility is not clearly stated.
M.S. Internship and Field Experience
The M.S. has no internship requirement. The non-thesis option ends in a project course; the thesis option requires a three-member graduate committee.
M.S. Admissions
Admission is selective, with Fall and Spring starts only.
- Bachelor’s in engineering, construction management, or a closely related field from an accredited institution
- 3.0 GPA in the last 60 undergraduate credits
- Prerequisites: 6 credits of math or finance beyond algebra and trigonometry, 7 credits of physics/natural science with labs, 3 credits of statistics, 2 credits of computer competency, 3 credits of project management
- GRE required, but waived for applicants with a 3.0 upper-division GPA in engineering or construction management within seven years; FE/PE can substitute for non-thesis applicants
- Resume, two recommendation letters, and a statement of objectives naming the concentration
Tuition
FGCU charges undergraduates $203.94 per credit in-state: $141.45 in tuition (base plus tuition differential) and $62.49 in mandatory fees, after a $1.75 waiver. Out-of-state undergraduates pay $933.95 per credit. Graduate students pay $373.38 in-state and $1,439.75 out-of-state.
| Item (per credit) | UG In-State | UG Out-of-State | Grad In-State | Grad Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition base | $105.07 | $105.07 | $290.60 | $290.60 |
| Tuition differential | $36.38 | $36.38 | N/A | N/A |
| Non-resident tuition | N/A | $695.27 | N/A | $1,015.60 |
| Mandatory fees (net of waiver) | $62.49 | $97.23 | $82.78 | $133.55 |
| Total per credit | $203.94 | $933.95 | $373.38 | $1,439.75 |
| Program total (derived) | $24,472.80 | $112,074.00 | $11,201.40 | $43,192.50 |
Mandatory fees cover financial aid, transportation access, parking, capital improvement, activity and service, athletics, health, and technology. They are charged per credit, so they are included in the totals above.
Be aware that:
- Totals use the 120 and 30 credit minimums; extra credits from the catalog’s 122-credit degree map would add about $408 in-state.
- Repeating a course adds a surcharge of $241.81 per credit (2026-27) for undergraduates.
- Some students may qualify for a tuition differential exemption; FGCU publishes the criteria on its tuition page.
- Lab fees for the 14 lecture/lab (“C” suffix) courses in the B.S.C.M. are not stated on the tuition page.
- Books, tools, PPE, and software are not included.
At about $24,500 for the full in-state bachelor’s, FGCU’s B.S.C.M. is priced at Florida’s public-university level, and the required summer term adds no tuition beyond the per-credit rate. Out-of-state students pay roughly 4.6 times as much, which makes residency the main cost lever. The in-state M.S. comes in just under the $12,000 FGCU advertises. See FGCU’s official tuition and fee schedule for current rates.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for students who want an ACCE-accredited bachelor’s in Southwest Florida, can attend full time in Fort Myers, and plan to work for Florida contractors.
First-year students. Starting BCN courses in the first fall gives freshmen early contact with faculty and the student chapters. That head start helps with competitions, research, and early internships, which several FGCU students cite as their route to job offers.
Transfer students from Florida colleges. The B.S.C.M. is a realistic next step for A.A. graduates who finish the common prerequisites, and St. Petersburg College now publishes a dedicated plan. A.S. graduates face a harder path. State College of Florida’s A.S., for example, uses College Algebra, so its graduates would still need Precalculus and physics before the junior-year sequence.
Graduates and working engineers. The M.S. suits engineers or CM graduates who want estimating, finance, and controls depth at under $12,000 in-state. Students looking for a fully online or business-focused construction master’s should look elsewhere, since this is a campus-based engineering degree with only some remote classes.
Accreditation and Credentials
Florida Gulf Coast University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Institutional accreditation is what qualifies students for federal financial aid and makes credits evaluable for transfer. See FGCU’s accreditation page.
The B.S.C.M. is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and FGCU appears on ACCE’s baccalaureate list (March 2024 revision). ACCE accreditation signals that the curriculum meets national standards for construction education, and some employers and graduate programs look for it. The M.S. concentration does not list separate programmatic accreditation.
B.S.C.M. students earn an OSHA 30-hour card during the program. FGCU does not state Florida contractor-licensing or AIC Associate Constructor exam relevance for either degree.
FGCU also sells a non-credit, online Introduction to Construction Management digital badge through continuing education. It does not award academic credit and is not covered on this page.