Construction and Energy Management Department • Aptos, CA • Campus • $52/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
Cabrillo College offers 4 construction management pathways:
- A.S. in Construction Management
- Construction Management Certificate of Achievement
- Construction Project Management Certificate of Achievement
- Construction Business Management Certificate of Achievement
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S. | $3.1K in-state / $27.3K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 60 |
| CM Certificate | $2.0K in-state / $16.9K out-of-state | 1.5 years (3 semesters) | 37 |
| Project Management Certificate | $998 in-state / $8.3K out-of-state | 1 year (2 semesters) | 18 |
| Business Management Certificate | $998 in-state / $8.3K out-of-state | 1 year (2 semesters) | 18 |
Tuition estimates use the $46 per unit California community college enrollment fee plus Cabrillo College’s fall and spring fees; out-of-state adds $402 per unit in nonresident tuition and a $2 per unit capital outlay fee.
- Why choose it: Cabrillo College’s construction management courses sit in a Construction and Energy Management department, so the A.S. pairs estimating, scheduling, law, and business with required sustainability coursework and electives in building codes, solar, green building, BIM, and internships.
- Trade-off: The core includes no surveying, structures, or mechanical and electrical systems course, the internship is optional, and several code electives are titled for older code editions.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | A.S. in Construction Management; Certificates of Achievement in Construction Management, Construction Project Management, and Construction Business Management |
| Format | Campus; most courses include a lab component |
| Campus Location | Aptos, CA (Santa Cruz County) |
| Credit Hours | 60 (A.S.); 37, 18, and 18 (certificates) |
| Internship | Optional; CEM 99 Internships/Work Experience (2 units) counts as an elective |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None stated |
| Software Taught | AutoCAD (ETECH 24) and BIM (ETECH 75) electives; CABT 101 Computer Proficiency in the 18-unit certificates |
| Industry Certifications | None embedded; electives cover Home Energy Rating System and LEED topics |
| Transfer | Cabrillo directs transfer students to ASSIST for university requirements |
| Tuition | $46 per unit in-state; $450 per unit out-of-state (2026-27) |
A.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the A.S. in Construction Management at Cabrillo College is approximately $3,100 in-state (60 credits at $51.67/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus $85 in fees for 4 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (4 semesters).
The A.S. in Construction Management provides planning, scheduling, estimating, project management, and finance training for entry-level students and skilled workers, covering residential and commercial construction phases and the basics of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, per Cabrillo College. The 60 units include 24 in general education, a 25-unit core, and 9 elective units. The out-of-state estimate is about $27,340.
A.S. Curriculum
The major combines nine required core courses with 9 units chosen from a long elective list.
- Management, estimating, and scheduling (5 courses, 15 units): CEM 154 Construction Estimating, CEM 159 Construction Planning and Scheduling, CEM 157 Construction Law, CEM 161 Construction Business and Related Topics, and CEM 160 Construction and Energy Management.
- Construction fundamentals and documents (3 courses, 7 units): CEM 151 Construction Fundamentals: Principles and Practices with lab, and CEM 155 Blueprint Reading.
- Sustainability (1 course, 3 units): CEM 162 Sustainable Construction, Building Performance, and the Environment.
- Electives (9 units): building code courses (California Residential and Energy Codes, International Building Code, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes), solar and renewable energy, green building and LEED, home energy rating, framing and residential construction skills, internship, AutoCAD, architecture and green design, and BIM.
Cabrillo College’s A.S. covers the business side of construction, including law, estimating, scheduling, and company management, and adds a required sustainability course plus energy-focused electives. The elective list lets students lean toward inspection through code courses, toward solar and energy work, or toward hands-on residential skills.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Only 3 of the 9 elective units can come from the ETECH courses (AutoCAD, architecture and green design, and BIM).
- Several code electives are titled for older code editions, such as the 2013 California Residential Code and the 2015 International Building Code.
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing basics appear only as 1-unit electives.
- The A.S. requires 2 units of general electives beyond the core, electives, and general education to reach 60.
A.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No.
- Available: CEM 99 Internships/Work Experience (2 units) as an elective.
- Labs: most department courses include a lab component, per Cabrillo College.
- Hours, pay, and employer partners: Not clearly stated.
Students already working in construction can use CEM 99 to earn credit for that experience, while newcomers can pick residential framing and skills electives for hands-on practice.
A.S. Admissions
Cabrillo College is open-enrollment, and the program lists no separate admission requirements.
- Advising: Cabrillo recommends meeting an academic counselor to plan general education and electives.
- Transfer planning: students heading to a UC or CSU should check major requirements on ASSIST.
Construction Management Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Construction Management Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College is approximately $1,957 in-state (37 credits at $52.89/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 3 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1.5 years (3 semesters).
The Construction Management Certificate of Achievement covers management, inspection, and hands-on skills training for students entering construction or those already working as contractors, inspectors, supervisors, estimators, and schedulers.
- Required (9 courses, 25 units): the same core as the A.S.
- Electives (9 units): from the A.S. elective list.
- English (3 units): business and technical writing or academic reading and writing.
The certificate is the A.S. major plus a writing course, so it gives working contractors the full management core without the general education requirement. Duration is derived from 37 units at about 12 units per semester.
Construction Project Management Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Construction Project Management Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College is approximately $998 in-state (18 credits at $55.44/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 2 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (2 semesters).
The Construction Project Management Certificate of Achievement prepares students for foreman, superintendent, scheduler, estimator, and project manager roles, per Cabrillo College.
- Courses (6 courses, 18 units): CEM 155 Blueprint Reading, CEM 160 Construction and Energy Management, CEM 162 Sustainable Construction, CEM 154 Construction Estimating, CEM 159 Construction Planning and Scheduling, and CABT 101 Computer Proficiency.
The program map runs three courses each in fall and spring, and every CEM course applies to the A.S. core.
Construction Business Management Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Construction Business Management Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College is approximately $998 in-state (18 credits at $55.44/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 2 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (2 semesters).
The Construction Business Management Certificate of Achievement swaps scheduling and blueprint reading for law and business management.
- Courses (6 courses, 18 units): CEM 157 Construction Law, CEM 160 Construction and Energy Management, CEM 162 Sustainable Construction, CEM 154 Construction Estimating, CEM 161 Construction Business and Related Topics, and CABT 101 Computer Proficiency.
This certificate suits tradespeople or small contractors who want legal, estimating, and business skills to run their own firm, and its CEM courses also count toward the A.S.
Tuition
California residents pay the $46 per unit community college enrollment fee plus about $85 per fall or spring semester in health, activity, student center, representation, and transportation fees. Nonresidents add $402 per unit in tuition and a $2 per unit capital outlay fee.
| Item (2026-27) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrollment fee (all students) | $46 per unit |
| Nonresident tuition and capital outlay | +$404 per unit |
| Transportation fee | $40 per fall or spring semester |
| Health fee | $28 per fall or spring semester |
| Student activity card fee | $10 per fall or spring semester |
| Student center fee | $1 per unit, up to $5 per semester |
| Student representation fee | $2 per semester |
- A.S. estimate: 60 × $46 = $2,760, plus 4 × $85 = $340, for $3,100 in-state; 60 × $450 + $340 = $27,340 out-of-state (derived).
- Certificate estimates: 37 units over 3 semesters = $1,957 in-state or $16,905 out-of-state; 18 units over 2 semesters = $998 in-state or $8,270 out-of-state (derived).
Be aware that:
- The California College Promise Grant waives the enrollment fee for eligible California residents.
- Nonresident tuition comes from the state’s 2026-27 report; Cabrillo’s fee page lists only the capital outlay fee.
- Parking ($40 per semester), lab materials, and books are not included.
At about $3,100 in-state, the A.S. costs about the same as Citrus College’s and Butte College’s A.S. degrees. See Cabrillo College’s fees and payments.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Cabrillo College suits Santa Cruz County students who want construction management with an energy and sustainability angle, at almost any commitment level.
Energy-minded builders: Required sustainability coursework and electives in solar, green building, LEED, and home energy rating fit students headed toward high-performance residential construction.
Working contractors: The two 18-unit certificates take two semesters and focus on estimating, scheduling, law, and business, the skills tradespeople need to move into management or run a company.
Future inspectors: Code electives let A.S. students build toward inspection roles, though students should check which code editions are currently taught.
Accreditation and Credentials
Cabrillo College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
No programmatic accreditation is listed for Cabrillo College’s construction management programs.
None of the programs embed an industry certification; electives introduce Home Energy Rating System and LEED topics.