Department of Technology • Normal, IL • Campus • $541.51/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
Illinois State University offers one construction management program: the B.S. in Construction Management, an ACCE-accredited, 120-hour degree whose major alone requires 93 hours.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $65K in-state / $115.7K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters) | 120 |
Tuition estimates use Illinois State’s 2026-27 per-credit tuition plus mandatory fees for new undergraduates.
- Why choose it: Illinois State requires 800 hours of documented construction work experience before students can enter the senior capstone, inside an ACCE-accredited degree with dedicated courses in scheduling, contracts and law, and construction finance.
- Trade-off: The 93-hour major leaves little room for a minor or electives, and out-of-state students pay double the in-state tuition rate.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | Normal |
| Credit Hours | 120 (93 in the major) |
| Internship | 800 hours of work experience required before the capstone |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE (expires February 2028) |
| Software Taught | BIM (TEC 217) |
| Math | MAT 108 Trigonometry, MAT 120 Finite Math, MAT 121 Applied Calculus; PHY 105 |
| Admission | 2.50 minimum GPA listed by the program |
| Tuition | $422.30/credit in-state, $844.60 out-of-state, plus $119.21 fees (2026-27) |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at Illinois State University is approximately $64,981 in-state and $115,657 out-of-state (120 credits at $541.51 or $963.81/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The B.S. in Construction Management is offered by the Department of Technology in the College of Applied Science and Technology.
B.S. Curriculum
- Math and science: MAT 108 Trigonometry, MAT 120 Finite Mathematics, MAT 121 Applied Calculus, PHY 105 Fundamentals of Physics, and CHE 102 Chemistry and Society
- Management courses: TEC 229 Cost Estimating, TEC 325 Construction Scheduling, TEC 226 Construction Contracts and Law, TEC 326 Construction Finance and Accounting, TEC 270 Managing Technological Systems, and TEC 394 Construction Management and Administration (capstone)
- Technical courses: TEC 120 Introduction to Building Construction, TEC 121 Construction Methods, TEC 222 Mechanical and Electrical Systems, TEC 223 Field Engineering, TEC 224 Soils and Foundations, TEC 292 Construction Materials Technology, and TEC 327 Design of Building Structures
- Documents and software: TEC 117 Construction Graphics, TEC 123 Construction Documents and Quantity Takeoff, and TEC 217 Building Information Modeling
- Safety and sustainability: HSC 272 Construction Safety and TEC 329 Sustainable Buildings and Urban Development
- Business core: ACC 131 Financial Accounting, ECO 101 and 102, FIL 185 Legal, Ethical and Social Environment of Business, and MKT 230 Marketing
- Electives (5 hours): choices include TEC 225 Construction Equipment Management, TEC 322 Building Codes and Inspection, TEC 328 Residential Development, and TEC 398 Professional Practice
The major covers each core management function with its own course: estimating, scheduling, contracts, and finance. Its math requirement includes trigonometry and applied calculus, more math than Eastern Illinois University’s major, which requires one applied computations course. With 93 of 120 hours prescribed, students have about 5 hours of open construction electives.
More curriculum details are available on the department’s curriculum page.
You Should Know
- TEC 325, 326, 327, 329, and 394 require a grade of C or better.
- Illinois State’s sample four-year plan adds up to 121 hours, one more than the 120 minimum.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Students must complete 800 hours of work experience before enrolling in the TEC 394 capstone.
- The work hours are a requirement, not a credit-bearing course; TEC 398 Professional Practice is available as an elective.
- The department doesn’t say whether the work must be paid or who arranges it.
- The department hosts a construction career fair each semester and runs an industry partnership program.
The 800-hour rule means every graduate arrives with roughly 20 weeks of full-time field experience. Students who want to finish in four years need to log those hours before senior year, such as during summers.
B.S. Admissions
The program’s admissions page lists a 2.50 minimum GPA, with admitted students’ middle 50% GPA at 3.00 to 3.47.
- Application windows: February 1-28 and September 1-30
- Transfer students are encouraged to complete trigonometry, finite math, applied calculus, accounting, chemistry, micro and macroeconomics, business law, and physics before transferring
- Community college equivalencies are published in Illinois State’s course articulation guides
Tuition
For undergraduates starting in 2026-27, Illinois State charges $422.30 per credit hour in-state and $844.60 out-of-state, plus $119.21 per credit hour in mandatory fees. Construction Management is not among the programs that carry a tuition differential.
| Item | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $422.30 | $844.60 |
| Mandatory fees per credit | $119.21 | $119.21 |
| Total per credit | $541.51 | $963.81 |
| B.S. (120 credits) | $64,981 | $115,657 |
See Illinois State’s undergraduate tuition rates.
Be aware that:
- Tuition is locked for four continuous years for new degree-seeking undergraduates; mandatory fees, housing, and dining are not locked.
- The estimate excludes housing, meals, books, and course fees.
- Out-of-state students pay twice the in-state tuition rate, though fees are the same.
In-state students pay about $65K for the degree, about $5K more than Eastern Illinois University’s single-rate B.S. Out-of-state students pay about $115.7K, about two-thirds of Bradley University’s $174,872.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for Illinois residents who want an accredited, structured construction management degree with field experience built into the path to graduation.
Required field experience: The 800-hour rule makes work experience a graduation gate rather than an option, unlike the optional internships at Eastern Illinois and Bradley University.
Transfer planning: Because the major is so prescribed, community college students should complete the recommended math, science, and business courses before transferring to avoid extra semesters.
Accreditation and Credentials
Illinois State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which supports credit transfer and federal financial aid eligibility.
The B.S. in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). ACCE’s 2025 annual report lists the accreditation period as July 2022 to February 2028.
The degree includes a required construction safety course but doesn’t name an embedded industry certification. Illinois State doesn’t state that the degree counts toward any contractor license; Illinois has no statewide general contractor license.