College of Engineering • Riverside, CA • Campus • $1,514/Credit (incl. fees)
California Baptist University offers one construction management program: the B.S. in Construction Management.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $187.7K (all students); about $140.8K on the 3-year plan | 4 years (3-year accelerated option) | 124 |
Tuition estimates use CBU’s 2026-27 flat-rate tuition plus general, student services, and construction management program fees; CBU charges the same rate to California and out-of-state students.
- Why choose it: CBU’s B.S. requires a supervised internship of at least 200 hours and a professional certification exam, listed as the Certified Associate Construction (CAC) exam or equivalent, and CBU reports that each recent graduating class placed 100% of its students in the industry.
- Trade-off: At about $187,700, it costs several times a California State University construction management degree, and ACCE’s 2024 list shows its accreditation running only through July 2026.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | Riverside, CA |
| Credit Hours | 124 (96 in the major, per CBU) |
| Internship | Required: pre-approved, supervised internship of at least 200 hours |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE, per CBU; ACCE’s 2024 list shows 07/2020 through 07/2026 |
| Software Taught | Computer-aided drafting and design and BIM courses; specific software not named |
| Industry Certifications | Students must take a professional certification exam, listed as the Certified Associate Construction (CAC) exam or equivalent, per the 2026-27 flowchart |
| Accelerated Option | 3-year plan for students with qualifying AP or CLEP credit |
| Tuition | $21,132 per semester (13-18 units) plus $2,290 in fees (2026-27) |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at California Baptist is approximately $187,686 (124 credits at $1,513.60/credit, derived from 8 semesters at $23,422 plus a one-time $310 new student fee).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The B.S. in Construction Management prepares students for management and supervisory construction careers within a Christian, biblical-worldview setting, per CBU. The degree requires 124 units, and CBU lists 96 units for the program.
B.S. Curriculum
The 2026-27 flowchart starts construction courses in the first year and places most of the construction sequence in years three and four.
- Building systems and methods (6 courses, 18 units): CONM 1050 Introduction to Construction Management, CONM 3100 Construction Materials and Methods, CONM 3400 Building Structures, CONM 4700 Mechanical, Electrical, Piping Construction, CONM 3200 Construction Equipment Management, and CONM 4200 Sustainable Construction.
- Estimating, scheduling, and finance (5 courses, 15 units): CONM 2050 Plan Reading and Estimating, CONM 4300 Advanced Estimating, CONM 4600 Construction Planning and Scheduling, CONM 3600 Site Management, and CONM 3250 Construction Company Financial Management.
- Law, contracts, and safety (3 courses, 9 units): CONM 3500 Project Delivery, Law, and Contracts, CONM 3300 Construction Safety, and BUSA 3580 Business Law.
- Design technology (2 courses, 6 units): CONM 2150 Computer-Aided Drafting and Design and CONM 3150 Building Information Modeling.
- Engineering and capstone (5 courses, 16 units): ENGR 1010 Introduction to Engineering, ENGR 2410 Statics, ENGR 2510 Surveying, and ENGR 4010 and 4020 Capstone Design and Presentation.
- Professional development (3 courses, 3 units): ENGR 3040 Leadership Cohort, ENGR 3060 Internship Preparation, and ENGR 4050 Internship Report and Presentation.
- Business, math, and science: ACCT 2500 Principles of Accounting I, an economics course, BUSA 4630 Business and Organizational Management, STAT 1440 Introduction to Statistics, a calculus-track math course, physics with lab, and chemistry or geoscience.
- Christian and global studies: CHST 1300 New Testament Survey, CHST 3700 The Christian Faith, and ICST 1050 Introduction to Global Studies.
CBU covers both building and heavy construction topics, with equipment management, site management, and MEP construction alongside two estimating courses. Its two-semester capstone and leadership cohort add team project work, and the required certification exam gives graduates an early industry credential attempt.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- CBU’s course list and its 2026-27 flowchart differ: the flowchart adds Site Management, Sustainable Construction, and up to four electives, while the course list includes ENGR 4510 Project and Construction Management and titles CONM 3300 Construction Law and Safety.
- The course list shows Surveying as 3 units and the math courses as 0 units; the flowchart lists Surveying at 4 units and math at 4 units.
- Students must complete an approved cross-cultural experience, which does not require course credit.
- The flowchart requires taking a professional certification exam; it does not say a passing score is required.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: Yes; a pre-approved, supervised internship of 200 to 1,200 hours.
- Support: ENGR 3060 Internship Preparation before placement and ENGR 4050 Internship Report and Presentation after.
- Timing: on the 3-year plan, usually the summer after the second year.
- Employers: alumni have worked at McCarthy Building Companies, Granite Construction, Hensel Phelps, Tilden-Coil Constructors, and Kiewit, per CBU.
- Pay: Not clearly stated.
The required internship, bracketed by preparation and reporting courses, means every graduate leaves with documented site experience. CBU’s AEC Club also takes students to national competitions and conferences.
B.S. Admissions
Admission follows CBU’s general undergraduate requirements, per the program’s public disclosures.
- 3-year option: high school seniors admitted to CBU engineering with an AP Calculus AB score of 4 or higher (or BC 3 or higher) and two other qualifying AP subjects.
- 3-year workload: 17-18 units per semester, possibly with summer courses, and up to 22 units of AP or CLEP credit.
- Plan approval: an academic plan approved by the department chair before the first week of classes.
Tuition
For 2026-27, CBU charges $21,132 per semester for 13-18 units, plus $2,290 in general, student services, and construction management program fees, for $23,422. All students pay the same rate.
| Item (2026-27, per semester, 13-18 units) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $21,132 |
| Construction management program fee | $1,215 |
| General fee | $775 |
| Student services fee | $300 |
| Total | $23,422 |
- 4-year estimate: 8 × $23,422 = $187,376, plus a $310 new student fee, for $187,686 (derived).
- 3-year estimate: 6 × $23,422 = $140,532, plus $310, for $140,842 (derived), assuming AP or CLEP credit covers the remaining units.
Be aware that:
- Semesters under 13 units are billed at $1,626 per unit, so a light final semester could cost less.
- Summer courses on the 3-year plan, science lab fees, and AP or CLEP exam costs are not included.
- The student services fee shown is the resident rate; commuters paid slightly less in 2025-26.
- Housing, meals, books, and optional health insurance are not included.
At about $187,700, CBU’s B.S. costs roughly three times Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s in-state estimate and about twice the out-of-state price at CSU Long Beach. See CBU’s tuition and fees.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
CBU makes the most sense for students who want a faith-based campus and a structured path into the industry, and who can close the price gap with aid.
Faith-based setting: Christian studies courses and a cross-cultural experience are part of the degree, which suits students looking for a Christian university.
Structured career entry: The required internship, certification exam, leadership cohort, and two-semester capstone give every graduate site experience and an industry credential attempt before graduation.
Finish faster: Students with strong AP scores can use the 3-year plan to cut about $46,800 from the estimate and start working a year earlier.
Accreditation and Credentials
California Baptist University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
CBU says its B.S. in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). The program first earned ACCE accreditation in July 2015, and ACCE’s baccalaureate list (Rev. 2024.03.13) shows its most recent accreditation from July 2020 through July 2026. No newer ACCE list was available to confirm renewal.
Students must take a professional certification exam, listed as the Certified Associate Construction (CAC) exam or equivalent, before graduating, per the 2026-27 flowchart.