School of Engineering and Technology • Macomb, IL • Campus • $451.66/Credit (U.S. Students, incl. fees)
Western Illinois University offers one construction management program: the B.S. in Construction Management, a 120-hour degree taught on the Macomb campus.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $54.2K | 4 years (8 semesters) | 120 |
Tuition estimates use WIU’s 2026-27 per-credit tuition for U.S. students plus mandatory fees from its cost estimator.
- Why choose it: WIU’s B.S. requires a 3-credit internship and two architectural design courses, one built around BIM, at one tuition rate for all U.S. students.
- Trade-off: The program isn’t ACCE-accredited, and its math requirement is MATH 113 plus statistics, with no calculus.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | Macomb (not offered at the Quad Cities campus) |
| Credit Hours | 120 (51 in the core) |
| Internship | Required: CSTM 493 (3 credits, up to 9) |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None |
| Software Taught | BIM (CSTM 302); 3D modeling (CSTM 301) |
| Math | MATH 113 and STAT 171 |
| Tuition | $350.10/credit tuition + about $101.56 fees, U.S. students (2026-27) |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at Western Illinois University is approximately $54,199 (120 credits at $451.66/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The B.S. in Construction Management is offered by WIU’s School of Engineering and Technology on the Macomb campus.
B.S. Curriculum
- Management courses: CSTM 345 Construction Scheduling, CSTM 430 Construction Estimating, CSTM 433 Legal Aspects of Construction, and MGT 349
- Technical courses: CSTM 132 Introduction to Construction Management, CSTM 234 Construction Systems and Concepts, CSTM 236 Surveying, CSTM 260 Statics and Strength of Materials, CSTM 337 Electrical and Mechanical Systems, and CSTM 460 Soils and Foundations
- Design and documents: CSTM 230 Construction Documents and Plan Reading, CSTM 301 Residential Architectural Design, CSTM 302 Commercial Architectural Design (BIM), and ET 105 Engineering Graphics
- Safety and sustainability: ET 448 Construction and Industrial Safety (OSHA) and CSTM 440 Green and Sustainable Construction (LEED)
- Professional practice: CSTM/ET 320 Professional Preparation and CSTM 493 Internship
- Business and math: accounting, business law, MATH 113, and STAT 171
- Directed electives (9 hours): options include CSTM 336 Aggregate Based Materials, ET 344 Lean Practices, ET 346 Facilities Design, GIS 201 and 202, and HRM 353
The core gives estimating, scheduling, and construction law one course each, and adds two architectural design courses that teach 3D modeling and BIM. Students also take OSHA-based safety and LEED-focused sustainability courses, plus 11 hours of open electives.
More curriculum details are available in WIU’s undergraduate catalog.
You Should Know
- Construction Management majors can’t add WIU’s Construction and Facilities Technology minor.
- This profile uses the 2025-26 web catalog; WIU says the 2026-27 web catalog will be posted in late November.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- CSTM 493 Internship (3 credits) is part of the required core; students can repeat it for up to 9 credits.
- Students write weekly reports, and WIU recommends finishing the internship before the last term on campus.
- CSTM 320 Professional Preparation covers the internship search, resumes, networking, and interviewing.
- WIU lists Kiewit, Walsh Construction, Gilbane, Clune Construction, Leopardo Construction, and the Illinois Department of Transportation among employers of its interns or graduates.
With a required internship and a course that prepares students to find one, WIU builds field experience into the degree, much as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville does.
B.S. Admissions
- Standard WIU undergraduate admission; no separate application to the major is described
- Students can join the Western Illinois Construction Management Association and student chapters of the National Association of Home Builders and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America
Tuition
Students who start at WIU in fall 2026, spring 2027, or summer 2027 pay $350.10 per credit hour in tuition under WIU’s Plan B, the same rate for all U.S. students. WIU’s cost estimator lists $1,523.40 in fees for a 15-hour semester, about $101.56 per credit.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit (U.S. students) | $350.10 |
| Fees per credit (derived) | $101.56 |
| 15-hour semester (tuition and fees) | $6,774.90 |
| B.S. (120 credits) | $54,199 |
See WIU’s Plan B tuition page and cost estimator.
Be aware that:
- The fee figure comes from WIU’s cost estimator rather than a published per-credit fee table.
- Some CSTM courses carry laboratory charges on top of tuition and fees.
- Housing, dining, books, and the health insurance charge ($1,075 a semester unless waived) are extra.
At about $54K for the degree, WIU costs less than Eastern Illinois University’s $59,657 B.S., and both charge one rate regardless of state residency.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for students in western Illinois and neighboring states who want a lower-cost construction degree with a required internship and design-software training.
Design and BIM: Residential and commercial architectural design courses, the second built around BIM, give WIU graduates more required design and modeling coursework than Eastern Illinois University, which requires one print reading and BIM course.
Accreditation: WIU’s program isn’t ACCE-accredited. Students who want an accredited degree should compare Illinois State University, Bradley University, and SIUE.
Accreditation and Credentials
Western Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which supports credit transfer and federal financial aid eligibility.
The B.S. in Construction Management doesn’t appear on ACCE’s accredited, candidate, or applicant lists in its 2025 annual report. WIU’s ABET accreditation applies to its engineering degrees, not this program.
The required ET 448 safety course covers the federal OSHA Act, and CSTM 440 covers LEED rating systems, though WIU doesn’t say either leads to a certification. WIU doesn’t state that the degree counts toward a contractor license; Illinois has no statewide general contractor license.