College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management • Chico, CA • Campus • $311/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
Chico State offers one construction management program: the B.S. in Construction Management.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $37.4K in-state / $93.9K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters) | 120 |
Tuition estimates use Chico State’s 2026-27 full-time semester tuition plus mandatory campus fees; out-of-state adds $471 per unit.
- Why choose it: Chico State’s B.S. is on ACCE’s accredited list through February 2028 and builds in heavy construction: separate building and heavy construction estimating courses, a construction equipment course, and temporary structures design.
- Trade-off: The catalog requires no internship, so students have to arrange their own field experience, and the fully prescribed major leaves no electives for specialization.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | Chico, CA |
| Credit Hours | 120 (87 in the major) |
| Internship | Not required |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE; on ACCE’s 2024 list through 02/2028 |
| Software Taught | CMGT 105 Computer Applications in Construction Management; specific software not named |
| Industry Certifications | None embedded |
| Laptop | Required for the major |
| Tuition | $4,672 per semester in-state, tuition plus mandatory fees (2026-27) |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at Chico State is approximately $37,376 in-state (120 credits at $311.47/credit, derived from 8 semesters at $4,672).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The B.S. in Construction Management is an 87-unit major inside a 120-unit degree, with 19 construction management courses and 9 business, math, and science courses. The out-of-state estimate is about $93,896.
B.S. Curriculum
The major starts with six lower-division construction courses that students must pass with a C or better before any 300-level course.
- Foundations (6 courses, 18 units): CMGT 100 Concepts of Construction, CMGT 105 Computer Applications in Construction Management, CMGT 110 Construction Graphics, CMGT 135 Construction Materials and Systems, CMGT 210 Drawings and Specifications, and CMGT 235 Electrical and Mechanical Systems.
- Estimating, scheduling, and controls (5 courses, 15 units): CMGT 360W Construction Project Management, CMGT 450 Building Estimating, CMGT 455 Construction Cost Management, CMGT 457 Project Scheduling and Control, and CMGT 458 Heavy Construction Estimating.
- Methods, equipment, and field engineering (4 courses, 12 units): CMGT 330 Soil Mechanics, Concrete, and Construction Surveying, CMGT 332 Construction Method Analysis, CMGT 335 Construction Equipment, and CMGT 440 Temporary Structures.
- Structures and sustainability (2 courses, 6 units): CMGT 350 Statics and Strength of Materials and CMGT 385 Concepts of Sustainable Construction.
- Law and contracts (2 courses, 6 units): CMGT 460W Legal Aspects of Construction and CMGT 462 Construction Contracts.
- Business, math, and science (9 courses, 30 units): ACCT 201 and ACCT 202, BLAW 203 Business Law, ECON 103, MGMT 303 Survey of Management, BCOM 300W Communication in Business, MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus, PHYS 202A General Physics I, and CHEM 107 General Chemistry for Applied Sciences.
Chico State’s major is almost entirely required, with no elective slots, and its heavy construction content is built in rather than optional: equipment, temporary structures, and a separate heavy estimating course sit alongside building estimating. Technical depth comes from one statics and strength of materials course, soils and surveying, and an electrical and mechanical systems course.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Students need a C or better in CMGT 100, 105, 110, 135, 210, and 235 before taking any required 300-level CMGT course.
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required to be accepted as a major, for both continuing and transfer students.
- The catalog waives one of the two GE Arts and Humanities courses for construction management majors.
- An optional Honors in the Major requires a 3.5 GPA and 6 honors units.
- Course descriptions do not name the software taught in CMGT 105.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No internship, practicum, or co-op appears in the catalog.
- Competitions: the department’s goal is to send at least three teams each year to the Associated Schools of Construction regional competition.
- Job offers: the department’s stated goal is for at least 90% of seniors to receive entry-level manager offers by graduation; it is a goal, not a reported result.
- Hours, pay, and placement: Not clearly stated.
Without a required internship, Chico State graduates may finish with no site experience unless they seek summer work themselves. The competition program gives students an industry-judged project, but it does not replace time on a jobsite.
B.S. Admissions
Advising is mandatory, and CMGT majors get enrollment priority in CMGT courses.
- First-year students: admitted through Chico State undergraduate admissions.
- Transfer students: need a 2.0 cumulative GPA for acceptance as a major and should complete the six lower-division CMGT courses or their equivalents with a C or better.
- Math: math courses require a C- or better in all prerequisites or transfer equivalents.
Tuition
For 2026-27, Chico State charges full-time undergraduates $3,419 in tuition plus $1,253 in mandatory campus fees per semester, for $4,672. Nonresidents add $471 per unit.
| Item (2026-27, per semester, 6.1+ units) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,419.00 |
| Student Union fee | $522.00 |
| Health services and facilities fees | $301.00 |
| Instructionally related activities (baseline and athletics) | $230.00 |
| Other campus fees (AS activity, student learning, consolidated course, ID card) | $200.00 |
| Total, in-state | $4,672.00 |
- B.S. estimate: 8 × $4,672 = $37,376 in-state (derived).
- Out-of-state: $37,376 + 120 units × $471 ($56,520) = $93,896 (derived).
Be aware that:
- A $2 student representation fee is optional and excluded from the total.
- A laptop is required for the major and is not included.
- CSU tuition has risen each year, so later years may cost more.
- Housing, meals, books, and course materials are not included.
At about $37,400 in-state, Chico State sits between Fresno State and Sacramento State on price, and it is the only one of the three whose ACCE accreditation runs past 2026 on ACCE’s 2024 list. See Chico State’s 2026-27 tuition and fees.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for students drawn to heavy civil and infrastructure work who want an ACCE-accredited degree at Cal State prices in a standard 120 units.
Heavy construction built in: Equipment, temporary structures, soils and concrete, and heavy estimating are required, so graduates leave ready for earthwork, highway, and site contractors as well as building contractors.
Accreditation record: ACCE’s 2024 list shows Chico State accredited through February 2028, a later expiry than Fresno State or Sacramento State on the same list.
Plan for field work: Students who want guaranteed site experience before graduating should compare programs with a required internship, or plan summer jobs from the first year.
Accreditation and Credentials
California State University, Chico is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
The B.S. in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). ACCE’s baccalaureate list (Rev. 2024.03.13) shows the program accredited from July 2021 through February 2028, and the department says it follows ACCE’s 20 prescribed student learning outcomes.
The program embeds no industry certifications. Its value comes from ACCE accreditation and a required heavy construction sequence.