College of Business • Honolulu, HI • Online • $1,431/Credit (incl. fees)
Hawaii Pacific University offers 1 construction management program, the online Master of Science in Construction Management.
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. in Construction Management | $42.9K | 1 year (3 terms) | 30 |
Tuition estimates use HPU’s 2026-27 rate of $1,414 per credit plus online graduate fees for three full-time terms.
- Why choose it: HPU’s M.S. is the only construction management master’s in Hawaii, built with the General Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi and open to bachelor’s holders in any field, with no GRE or engineering degree required.
- Trade-off: At about $42.9K, the degree is not ACCE-accredited, and HPU’s own program pages disagree on whether it takes 12 or 16 months.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credential Offered | M.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Online, with optional hybrid sections |
| Campus Location | Downtown Honolulu (hybrid sections) |
| Credit Hours | 30 (10 courses) |
| Internship | Required practicum (CMGT 6900) |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None; HPU cites “ACCE-aligned” learning outcomes |
| Industry Partner | General Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi |
| Start Terms | Fall (August) and spring (January) |
| Admission Tests | No GRE or GMAT |
| Tuition | $1,414/credit (2026-27), same for all students |
M.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Construction Management at Hawaii Pacific University is approximately $42,925 (30 credits at $1,414/credit plus online fees). The program can generally be completed in about 1 year of full-time study.
The Master of Science in Construction Management launched in fall 2024 in partnership with the General Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in any field.
M.S. Curriculum
- Core (18 credits): CMGT 6000 Construction Project Management, CMGT 6100 Advanced Project Scheduling and Control, CMGT 6200 Construction Cost Management, CMGT 6300 Legal Aspects of Construction Management, CMGT 6400 Risk Management in Construction, and CMGT 6500 Construction Safety, Compliance, and Sustainability
- Advanced Project Management (9 credits): CMGT 6700 Project Management Tools and Software, CMGT 6800 Construction Management Procurement and Contracts, and CMGT 6900 Construction Management Practicum
- Capstone (3 credits): CMGT 6600 Construction Project Management Capstone, an applied project, case study, or research project
All 10 courses are construction management courses. There are no business, engineering, or design electives, so the degree covers scheduling, cost control, contracts, risk, and safety in depth but leaves out the technical side (structures, building systems, estimating from drawings) that an undergraduate construction degree would cover. Students without construction experience should expect the program to teach how projects are managed rather than how buildings are built.
More curriculum details are available in HPU’s 2026-27 catalog.
You Should Know
- HPU ended the Business Administration concentration starting fall 2026; Advanced Project Management is now the only path, according to Building Industry Hawaii.
- HPU’s current program page says the degree takes as little as 12 months with 8-week terms, while an older HPU page still lists 16 months and 16-week terms. Confirm the current schedule with the program.
M.S. Internship and Field Experience
- CMGT 6900 Construction Management Practicum is a required 3-credit course in the Advanced Project Management block.
- HPU describes it as supervised construction or project management experience.
- Hours, pay, and how placements are arranged are not clearly stated.
The required practicum gives career changers supervised project experience to put on a résumé. Students already working in construction can likely complete it with their current employer, though HPU doesn’t say so.
M.S. Admissions
Admission is open to bachelor’s holders in any field, with no test scores or prior business degree required.
- Online application with a $55 fee, waived after an info session or one-on-one consultation
- Official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Résumé and personal statement
- Priority deadlines: July 1 for fall, November 1 for spring
- No minimum GPA is published.
Tuition
HPU charges $1,414 per credit for the M.S. in Construction Management in 2026-27, effective August 31, 2026. As a private university, it charges the same rate to Hawaii residents and out-of-state students. Online graduate students pay a $75 technology fee and a $75 health services fee each full-time term, plus a one-time $55 orientation fee.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit (2026-27) | $1,414 |
| Tuition (30 credits) | $42,420 |
| Technology fee (full-time, per term) | $75 |
| Health services fee (full-time, per term) | $75 |
| Orientation fee (one time, online) | $55 |
| Estimated total (3 full-time terms) | $42,925 |
See HPU’s 2026-27 graduate tuition rates and fee schedule.
Be aware that:
- Online and hybrid graduate students don’t pay HPU’s student activity, career preparation, or transportation fees.
- HPU automatically enrolls graduate students in a $261 per-term course materials bundle unless they opt out by the deadline.
- The estimate assumes three full-time terms; the 16-month schedule on HPU’s older page would add a term of fees.
Fees add only about $500 to the total, so tuition drives the cost. The all-in figure works out to about $1,431 per credit before books or the optional materials bundle.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for Hawaii professionals with a bachelor’s in another field who want a construction management credential without leaving work or the islands.
No in-state alternative at this level: HPU’s M.S. is the only construction management master’s in Hawaii. Brigham Young University–Hawaii offers a bachelor’s in Construction and Facilities Management, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a B.S. in Construction Engineering, but neither has a graduate CM option.
Local industry ties: The program was developed with the General Contractors Association of Hawaiʻi, and HPU says industry partners in Hawaii help shape the curriculum.
Accreditation trade-off: Students who want an ACCE-accredited master’s would need an online program from another state, since no Hawaii program appears on ACCE’s master’s list.
Accreditation and Credentials
Hawaii Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit recognition.
The M.S. in Construction Management is not on ACCE’s accredited master’s list (Rev. 2025.03.20). HPU describes the program’s learning outcomes as “ACCE-aligned,” which is not the same as accreditation. This matters less at the master’s level than for undergraduate degrees, but students planning to teach or work for employers that ask for ACCE degrees should note it.
HPU doesn’t state that the degree counts toward Hawaii contractor licensing experience or embeds industry certifications.