Engineering and Architecture Department • San Francisco, CA • Campus • $48/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
City College of San Francisco offers 3 construction management pathways:
- A.S. in Construction Management
- Construction Management: Advanced Skills Certificate of Achievement
- Construction Management: Core Skills Certificate of Achievement
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S. | $2.9K in-state / $27.4K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 60 (30 in the major) |
| Advanced Skills Certificate | $1.5K in-state / $13.7K out-of-state | 1.5 years (3 semesters minimum) | 30 |
| Core Skills Certificate | $932 in-state / $8.7K out-of-state | 1 year (2 semesters minimum) | 19 |
Tuition estimates use the $46 per unit California community college enrollment fee plus City College’s mandatory fall and spring fees; out-of-state adds $409 per unit in nonresident tuition. San Francisco residents may qualify for free enrollment through Free City.
- Why choose it: City College says graduates of its construction management A.S. receive credit from the California Contractors State License Board for one and a half of the four years of experience required for a building contractor’s license, and San Francisco residents may attend free through Free City.
- Trade-off: The 30-unit major requires only six construction courses, structures and building code courses are electives, and no internship is listed.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | A.S. in Construction Management; Certificates of Achievement in Construction Management: Advanced Skills and Core Skills |
| Format | Campus; City College says the program is also offered fully or partially online |
| Campus Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Credit Hours | 60 (A.S., 30 in the major); 30 and 19 (certificates) |
| Internship | Not required |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None stated |
| Software Taught | Not named in catalog requirements |
| Contractor License Credit | A.S. counts for 1.5 of the 4 years of experience required for a California building contractor’s license, per City College |
| Free City | Enrollment fees covered for eligible San Francisco residents |
| Tuition | $46 per unit in-state; $455 per unit out-of-state (2026-27) |
A.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the A.S. in Construction Management at City College of San Francisco is approximately $2,876 in-state (60 credits at $47.93/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus $29 in fees for 4 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (4 semesters).
The A.S. in Construction Management prepares students for estimating, cost control, scheduling, document control, quality assurance, and inspection roles with construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, and architecture and engineering offices, per City College. The 30-unit major is combined with general education to reach 60 units. The out-of-state estimate is about $27,416.
A.S. Curriculum
Each major course requires a C or P or better.
- Required construction core (6 courses, 18 units): CM 100 Fundamentals of Construction Management, CM 110 Construction Graphics, CM 240 Construction Cost Estimating, CM 244 Construction Scheduling, CM 248 Construction Project Administration, and ARCH 120 Fundamentals of Building Construction.
- Communication (6 units): chosen from public speaking, group or oral communication, business management communication, ESL public speaking, or CM 20 Introduction to Building Industry Projects and CM 250 Building Industry Communications and Documents.
- Technical and business electives (6 units): chosen from ARCH 127 Fundamentals of Building Structures, ARCH 160 Professional Practice, ARCH 240 Fundamentals of the International Building Code, BSL 1 Business Law I, MGT 231 Introduction to Supervision and Management, GNBS 119 Introduction to Business, and shorter introductory courses.
City College’s major covers estimating, scheduling, and project administration, and devotes 6 of its 30 units to professional communication within the major itself. Structures, building codes, and business law are available but optional, so students choose between technical and business depth.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- City College’s sample course maps include BIM 120 Revit Architecture I, but the 2026-27 catalog requirements do not list it, and the college says the maps may not be up to date.
- The catalog does not give an A.S. unit total; 60 units is California’s minimum for an associate degree.
- The contractor license experience credit is stated by City College; applicants should confirm current rules with the Contractors State License Board.
A.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No internship or co-op is listed.
- Project work: CM 20 Introduction to Building Industry Projects is an optional communication course.
- Hours, pay, and employer partners: Not clearly stated.
Without a field requirement, students new to construction should look for summer or part-time work; those already in the trades gain the most from the contractor license credit.
A.S. Admissions
City College is open-enrollment, and the program lists no separate admission requirements.
- Grades: C or P or better in each major course.
- Advising: City College recommends meeting a counselor to plan general education.
Construction Management: Advanced Skills Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Advanced Skills Certificate at City College of San Francisco is approximately $1,467 in-state (30 credits at $48.90/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 3 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1.5 years (3 semesters minimum).
The Advanced Skills Certificate is designed for students returning to college after a degree in another field and for entry-level construction management employees seeking advancement, per City College.
- Courses (30 units): the same requirements as the A.S. major: the six-course construction core, 6 communication units, and 6 technical or business elective units.
Because every course also counts toward the A.S., certificate holders need only general education to finish the degree.
Construction Management: Core Skills Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Core Skills Certificate at City College of San Francisco is approximately $932 in-state (19 credits at $49.05/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 2 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (2 semesters minimum).
The Core Skills Certificate targets entry-level construction management jobs and tradespeople moving into management, per City College.
- Courses (19 units): ARCH 120 Fundamentals of Building Construction, CM 10 Introduction to Construction Management, CM 100 Fundamentals of Construction Management, CM 110 Construction Graphics, CM 240 Construction Cost Estimating, CM 248 Construction Project Administration, and one 3-unit communication option.
The Core Skills certificate leaves out CM 244 Construction Scheduling, so students wanting scheduling should continue to the Advanced Skills certificate.
Tuition
California residents pay the $46 per unit enrollment fee plus about $29 per fall or spring semester in health, student activities, and representation fees. Nonresidents add $409 per unit for 2026-27, per the state’s nonresident tuition report.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrollment fee (all students) | $46 per unit |
| Nonresident tuition (2026-27) | +$409 per unit |
| Health fee | $20 per fall or spring semester |
| Student activities fee | $7 per fall or spring semester |
| Student representation fee | $2 per semester |
- A.S. estimate: 60 × $46 = $2,760, plus 4 × $29 = $116, for $2,876 in-state; 60 × $455 + $116 = $27,416 out-of-state (derived).
- Certificate estimates: 30 units over 3 semesters = $1,467 in-state or $13,737 out-of-state; 19 units over 2 semesters = $932 in-state or $8,703 out-of-state (derived).
Be aware that:
- Free City covers enrollment fees for California residents who live in San Francisco, and some nonresident exemptions apply.
- City College’s fee page still lists $406 per unit nonresident tuition effective Summer 2024; the state’s 2026-27 report lists $409.
- A $3 web registration fee, course materials, and books are not included.
At about $2,900 in-state, or free for eligible San Francisco residents, the A.S. costs a fraction of a single year at Cal State East Bay, the nearest bachelor’s profiled here. See City College’s tuition and fees.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
City College suits San Francisco students and tradespeople aiming at a contractor’s license or a construction office role.
Future license holders: The A.S. counts toward the experience requirement for a California building contractor’s license, per City College, which shortens the path for students who plan to run their own firm.
San Francisco residents: Free City can bring the enrollment cost to zero, making any of the three credentials low risk.
Career changers with a degree: The Advanced Skills certificate gives the full major in three semesters without general education.
Accreditation and Credentials
City College of San Francisco 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 City College’s construction management programs.
None of the programs embed an industry certification; City College says the A.S. earns credit toward Contractors State License Board experience requirements.