Four Kentucky public universities offer a construction management bachelor’s degree, and one of them also offers a master’s pathway. Two of the four bachelor’s programs, at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, hold ACCE accreditation; Western Kentucky University is an ACCE applicant. No Kentucky community college offers a credit construction management associate degree; the state’s two-year colleges teach construction technology instead.
In-state tuition and mandatory fees for a four-year bachelor’s run from about $46,100 to $49,100 among the schools on this page, a spread of only about $3,000. Out-of-state costs vary far more, from about $54,600 to $108,000, and each school has its own discount for neighboring states. EKU’s master’s in technology management with a construction concentration runs about $20,600 in-state.
Kentucky Construction Management Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Credentials | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Tuition | Program Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | Bachelor's, Master's | Campus | 30–120 | $20,574–$48,264 | ACCE |
| Murray State University | Murray, KY | Bachelor's | Campus | 120 | $46,120 | None stated |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY | Bachelor's | Campus | 120 | $46,848 | ACCE |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | Bachelor's | Campus | 120 | $49,104 | None stated |
Costs are estimated program totals using each school’s 2026-27 tuition and mandatory fees. Course and college fees are listed on each profile.
Best Kentucky Construction Management Programs by Goal
- Most required field experience: Northern Kentucky University requires two 300-hour co-ops (600 hours). They carry 0 credits, so they add no tuition.
- Field engineering depth: Eastern Kentucky University requires two surveying courses, statics, soils and foundations, and structural design, built on trigonometry, applied calculus, and physics.
- Lowest in-state cost: Murray State University at about $46,100 for the B.S., with NKU close behind at about $46,800.
- Ohio and Indiana residents: NKU’s “3 States, 1 Rate” model charges students admitted fall 2025 or later the Kentucky rate.
- Students from other neighboring states: Western Kentucky University‘s Border State Scholarship keeps tuition at the in-state rate for freshmen from all seven bordering states, and Murray State charges a regional rate to residents of 15 states.
- Accredited degree at the lowest out-of-state price: EKU, where non-residents pay about $54,600, roughly $6,400 more than Kentucky residents.
- Real estate and development: Murray State’s 20-credit elective block includes real estate principles, real estate law, and finance.
- Building a custom elective mix: WKU’s 12 technical elective credits draw from about three dozen courses, including BIM, GIS, surveying, risk, and project management.
- Working professionals: EKU’s M.S. in Technology Management, Construction Management concentration (30 credits). Confirm delivery first: EKU’s current program page lists it as on-campus, while its department site describes a 100% online format.
Kentucky Construction Management Programs by Degree Level
Bachelor’s Degrees
| School | Program | Format | Required Field Experience | Accreditation | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State University | B.S. Construction Management and Architecture, CM Track | Campus | 1 credit minimum | None stated | $46,120 |
| Northern Kentucky University | B.S. Construction Management | Campus | Two 300-hour co-ops | ACCE | $46,848 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | B.S. Construction Management | Campus | 2 credits applied learning | ACCE | $48,264 |
| Western Kentucky University | B.S. Construction Management | Campus | 1 credit | ACCE applicant | $49,104 |
All four bachelor’s programs are 120-credit, on-campus degrees, so the real differences are accreditation, field experience, and math. EKU and NKU are the only ACCE-accredited options; Murray State and WKU stop at trigonometry and statistics, while EKU requires applied calculus and NKU requires pre-calculus plus calculus or statistics.
- Management depth: NKU’s management and controls block runs seven courses (21 credits) plus a required 18-credit business minor; EKU’s management block is six courses, and WKU’s is three (estimating, scheduling, and construction management).
- Technical depth: EKU and WKU lean on surveying, soils, and materials; Murray State adds an architecture side through its shared department.
- Extra fees: WKU adds about $1,900-$2,400 in per-credit college fees and Murray State about $305 in course fees over the degree; NKU’s rate includes mandatory fees.
You Should Know
- Murray State requires students to live on campus for their first four full-time semesters.
- NKU’s discounted rate for Ohio and Indiana applies to students admitted fall 2025 or later; earlier admits pay $11,604 per semester.
- WKU’s ACCE application has no published decision date.
Master’s Degrees
| School | Program | Format | Credits | Est. In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University | M.S. Technology Management, Construction Management concentration | Campus (department site says online) | 30 | $20,574 |
EKU’s master’s is a technology management degree in which 9 of 30 credits are construction courses (company formation, LEED, portfolio management). It is not ACCE-accredited, and EKU’s MBA offers the same three construction courses as a concentration. NKU’s online MBA also lists a construction management elective stack, but neither MBA is a construction management degree.
Other Construction Programs in Kentucky
These programs came up in research but are not profiled here because they are not construction management degrees.
- Morehead State University: B.S. in Engineering Technology with a Construction Management and Civil Engineering Technology track (ATMAE-accredited). The track adds 30 credits, including project management, estimating, codes and contracts, surveying, and structural design, to a general engineering technology core.
- Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS): Construction Technology associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates focused on carpentry and building trades.
- Gateway Community and Technical College: a general A.S. with a published Gateway2NKU transfer guide into NKU’s B.S. in Construction Management.
- University of Louisville: a 12-credit undergraduate Construction Operations certificate for civil engineering students.
- University of Kentucky: undergraduate and graduate Design-Build certificates through the College of Design.
Do You Need a Contractor License in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not issue a statewide general contractor license. The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC) licenses specific trades, including plumbers, electricians, boiler contractors, and sprinkler and fire alarm contractors, and HVAC contractors are licensed under KRS 198B.650. General and building contractors are licensed or registered locally, so requirements depend on where the work is.
- Louisville Metro: Metro Code § 150.084 sets Type A building contractor identification and a limited Type B for a single permit, renewed each calendar year. Contractors who pull permits for one-, two-, or multi-family residential work must complete six hours of accredited continuing education each year. Louisville Metro Code sets the annual fees at $125 (Type A) and $50 (Type B).
- Lexington-Fayette: contractors register with the Division of Building Inspection after obtaining an office certificate ($10 home office, $25 commercial location), an occupational business license, and proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance, per LFUCG.
- Bowling Green and Warren County: anyone working as a general or specialty contractor needs a license from the joint Contractors Licensing Board. General contractors pay $250, show at least $100,000 in general liability coverage, and complete three hours of continuing education each year under the local ordinance.
None of these local programs, and none of the four universities, states that a construction management degree substitutes for experience or waives an exam. The trades DHBC licenses have their own experience and exam requirements, so a CM graduate who wants to run an electrical, plumbing, or HVAC company still needs the trade license.
You Should Know
- Requirements in smaller cities and counties vary from simple registration to nothing at all; check with the local building department before bidding work.
- Local insurance minimums and fees change; confirm them with the licensing office.
Transferring from a Kentucky Community College to a University
Kentucky’s General Education Transfer Policy, set by the Council on Postsecondary Education under KRS 164.2951, applies to all Kentucky public universities and KCTCS. Graduates of an approved A.A. or A.S. program are deemed to have met all general education requirements at a public university, and coursework that meets the policy’s learning outcomes transfers as a block or as individual courses.
- A.S. or A.A. first: completes the general education block, but the receiving university’s pre-major and math requirements still apply. Plan trigonometry, calculus or statistics, and physics around the target school.
- Named pathways: NKU publishes a 2025-26 Gateway2NKU guide, and EKU publishes a KCTCS A.S. to B.S. Construction Management guide (dated March 2023).
- A.A.S. and technical credit: the statewide policy covers the general education courses inside an applied degree, not the technical courses. Construction technology credit transfers only where the university evaluates it.
Bottom Line
Kentucky’s four construction management bachelor’s programs cost nearly the same for residents, so the choice comes down to accreditation, field experience, math, and location. Out-of-state students should compare each school’s neighboring-state discount before the sticker price.
- Accreditation: EKU and NKU hold ACCE accreditation; WKU has applied.
- Format: all four bachelor’s programs are on campus.
- Internship: NKU requires the most field experience (600 hours); the others require 1-2 credits.
- Next step: compare each profile’s curriculum and math sequence against the work you want to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many construction management programs are in Kentucky?
Four public universities offer a construction management bachelor’s degree: Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Northern Kentucky, and Western Kentucky. EKU also offers a master’s in technology management with a construction concentration.
Which Kentucky construction management programs are ACCE-accredited?
Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University. Western Kentucky University is listed as an ACCE applicant.
Are there online construction management degrees in Kentucky?
None of the four bachelor’s programs is offered online. EKU’s department site describes its construction master’s as online, but EKU’s current program page lists it as on-campus, so confirm before applying.
What is the cheapest construction management degree in Kentucky?
Among the schools on this page, Murray State has the lowest in-state bachelor’s cost at about $46,100, though all four fall within about $3,000 of each other.
Do I need a license to be a general contractor in Kentucky?
Not from the state. General contractors are licensed or registered locally, as in Louisville Metro, Lexington-Fayette, and Bowling Green-Warren County, while plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work requires a state trade license.
Program data verified November 2026 from each school’s 2026-27 catalog and tuition schedule. Licensing information from DHBC and local government sources; transfer rules from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.