Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management • Baton Rouge, LA • Online or Campus • $465/Credit (LSU Online undergraduate, incl. fees)
Louisiana State University offers 4 construction management pathways:
- Undergraduate Certificate (online)
- B.S. in Construction Management (campus or online)
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (online)
- M.S. in Construction Management (online or campus)
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergrad Certificate | $11.2K | About 1 year | 24 |
| B.S. (campus) | $51.9K in-state / $118.6K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters) | 123-125 |
| B.S. (online) | $57.2K-$58.1K | 4 years (8 semesters) | 123-125 |
| Post-Bacc Certificate | $8.4K | 6-12 months | 18 |
| M.S. (online) | $30.8K | About 2 years | 36 |
| M.S. (campus) | $26.4K in-state / $60.3K out-of-state | About 2 years (4 semesters) | 30-36 |
Tuition estimates use LSU Online’s 2026-27 flat per-credit rates and LSU’s 2026-27 Tier 2 campus tuition and required fees.
- Why choose it: LSU offers ACCE-accredited construction management at both the bachelor’s and master’s level, and both degrees are available fully online at one flat rate with no out-of-state charge, so a student outside Louisiana pays about $58,000 for the online B.S. instead of about $118,600 on campus.
- Trade-off: The B.S. is math- and science-heavy for a management degree, with trigonometry, calculus, two physics courses, soils, and structural design, and the internship is an elective rather than a requirement.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | Undergraduate certificate, B.S., post-baccalaureate certificate, M.S.; Ph.D. on campus |
| Format | B.S. and M.S.: campus or online; both certificates: online only |
| Credit Hours | 24 (certificate), 123-125 (B.S.), 18 (post-bacc), 30-36 (M.S.) |
| Internship | Elective (CM 4208) in the B.S.; not required |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE: B.S. (expires 07/2030), M.S. (renewed 02/2026, expires 07/2033) |
| Math | B.S.: Plane Trigonometry plus Calculus I or Business Calculus |
| Software Taught | BIM course in B.S. and M.S.; software titles not named |
| Industry Certifications | OSHA Certified Occupational Safety Specialist and AIC Associate Constructor (extra fees) |
| Built-In Minors | Business Administration and Technical Sales, included in the B.S. |
| Transfer Pathway | Up to 75% transfer into online B.S.; 2.5 GPA for transfer admission |
| Tuition | Online: $465/credit undergraduate, $855/credit M.S.; campus: Tier 2 flat-rate |
Undergraduate Certificate in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the Undergraduate Certificate at Louisiana State University is approximately $11,160 (24 credits at $465/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (derived; LSU does not publish a completion time).
The online Undergraduate Certificate in Construction Management is eight courses for students without a degree, and the credits can count toward the online B.S.
Undergraduate Certificate Curriculum
- Core (6 courses, 18 credits): Introduction to Construction Management, Construction Materials and Methods I, Construction Plan Reading, Construction Estimating, Construction Scheduling and Cost Control, Construction Contracting
- Electives (2 courses, 6 credits, at least one at the 3000-4000 level): choices include safety, BIM, commercial or industrial estimating, three residential courses, maintenance and turnarounds, industrial project controls, and project management
The core is the same estimating, scheduling, and contracting sequence that anchors the B.S., so the certificate works as a trial run for the degree. LSU says it helps prepare students for the AIC Associate Constructor Level I exam if they have enough work experience to sit for it.
Undergraduate Certificate Admissions
Admission follows LSU’s undergraduate rules rather than an open-enrollment model.
- First-time students: 3.0 GPA on LSU’s 19-unit high school core; test-optional
- Transfer students: 30 or more transferable credits, a 2.5 GPA, and a C or better in college English and math
- Every CM course requires a C or better
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. at Louisiana State University is approximately $51,862 in-state and $118,570 out-of-state on campus (8 semesters at the 2026-27 Tier 2 rate), or $57,195 to $58,125 online (123-125 credits at $465/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management is offered on campus and through LSU Online. LSU says ACCE has accredited the degree since 1982.
B.S. Curriculum
The 2026-27 catalog lists 19 CM courses, a 21-credit business block that doubles as two minors, and a 12-credit Industry Emphasis Area (IEA). Math runs through Plane Trigonometry (MATH 1022) and either Calculus I (MATH 1550, 5 credits) or Business Calculus (MATH 1431), followed by two semesters of physics.
- Management (7 courses): Introduction to Construction Management, Construction Estimating, Construction Scheduling and Cost Control, Construction Contracting, Construction Safety, Construction Project Management, Construction Enterprise (capstone)
- Technical (11 courses): Materials and Methods I and II, Construction Equipment, Plan Reading, Structural Principles and Practices, Construction Surveying, Construction and Civil Materials, Mechanical and Electrical Systems, Soils in Construction, Applied Structural Design, BIM for Construction Management
- Other CM: Introduction to Sustainability in the Built Environment
- Business (built-in minors): Management Information Systems, Survey of Accounting, Economic Principles, Business Finance, Principles of Marketing, Principles of Management, Business Law
- Industry Emphasis Area (12 credits): Commercial, Industrial, Heavy Highway, Residential, Facilities Management, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Sales, Military (ROTC), or a General mix; some IEAs award a digital badge
Technical courses outnumber management courses, and the structures, soils, and physics sequence gives LSU graduates more engineering grounding than a business-based CM degree. The business block is unusual in practice: students finish with Business Administration and Technical Sales minors without adding credits. The Industrial IEA (maintenance and turnarounds, industrial estimating, industrial project controls, industrial electrical) suits Baton Rouge’s petrochemical contractors. More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Students must be admitted to the College of Engineering before taking any CM course above CM 2112, which requires a C or better in the 1000-2000 level CM courses and a 2.0 GPA.
- LSU Online’s course list for the online B.S. differs from the 2026-27 catalog: it omits CM 1070 and CM 3112 (BIM) and lists different general education courses. Follow the catalog and confirm with an advisor.
- Semester 5 of the catalog plan carries 18 credits. LSU’s fee schedule lists rates only up to 15 hours, so confirm whether that term costs more.
- A joint B.S./MBA lets high-achieving students finish both degrees in five years; MBA premium tuition applies in the last two years.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- CM 4208 Internship is an approved IEA elective, not a degree requirement.
- It requires department approval, and registration closes May 15 for the following fall.
- The department publishes a list of hiring companies that includes Turner Industries, Performance Contractors, Boh Bros., and Barber Brothers.
- LSU reports a 90%+ job placement rate for CM graduates.
Because the internship is optional, students who skip it graduate without guaranteed jobsite hours. Campus students can use summers for contractor work; online students who already work in construction get that experience on the job.
B.S. Admissions
LSU admits to the university first and to the CM major later, after students pass their early CM courses.
- First-time freshmen: 3.0 core GPA on 19 college-prep units; test-optional
- Transfer: 30 or more transferable credits, 2.5 GPA, and C or better in college English and math
- The online B.S. accepts up to 75% of credits by transfer, and LSU offers credit for prior learning and credit by exam
- Online classes for spring 2027 begin January 11; apply by December 14, 2026
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at Louisiana State University is approximately $8,370 (18 credits at $465/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 6-12 months.
The online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is six seven-week courses for career changers with a bachelor’s degree in another field. It also serves as the leveling coursework for the M.S.
Post-Bacc Certificate Curriculum
- In sequence: Construction Materials and Methods I, Construction Estimating, Construction Scheduling and Cost Control
- Any order: Structural Principles and Practices, Mechanical and Electrical Systems, Construction Contracting
LSU positions the certificate as preparation for the AIC Associate Constructor Level 1 exam. It skips plan reading and safety, so graduates should add those through work or the M.S.
Post-Bacc Certificate Admissions
- A bachelor’s degree with a 2.0 GPA, or 3.0 for students using it to level into the M.S.
- No GRE
Master of Science in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the M.S. at Louisiana State University is approximately $30,780 online (36 credits at $855/credit), or $26,427 in-state and $60,257 out-of-state on campus (4 semesters at 9 credits, Tier 2 rate).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (derived from 36 credits at 9 credits per semester).
The M.S. in Construction Management runs on three paths. The Professional path (36 credits, no thesis) is the only one offered through LSU Online; the Executive path (33 credits plus a 3-credit project) and Research path (24 credits plus 6 thesis credits) are campus only.
M.S. Curriculum
- Core (3 courses, 9 credits): CM 7010 Research Methods, CM 7030 Project Delivery, CM 7222 Human Factors and Leadership
- Online electives (9 courses, 27 credits): choices include lean construction, BIM, construction scheduling and diagnosis, dispute resolution, decision-making tools, advanced productivity, sustainable construction, life cycle assessment, soils, concrete materials, disaster resilient construction, and two industrial courses
- Executive path: adds statistics and an independent study project
With 27 of 36 credits in electives, the online M.S. can lean toward industrial project controls, sustainability, or field productivity depending on the student’s work. There is no thesis, project, or comprehensive exam on the Professional path. More curriculum details are available here.
M.S. Admissions
Applicants without construction estimating, scheduling, and project management background must complete leveling courses, typically the post-baccalaureate certificate.
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate work or the last half of the degree
- No GRE required for the online program
- LSU also offers a campus Ph.D. in Construction Management for research careers
Tuition
LSU Online charges a flat $465 per credit for its undergraduate CM programs and $855 per credit for the M.S. in 2026-27, with no out-of-state fee. Campus students pay LSU’s Tier 2 tuition, which applies to construction management, and residency matters.
| Campus Rate (2026-27, Tier 2) | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, 15 hours (fall) | $6,483.75 | $14,825.75 |
| Undergraduate, 15 hours (spring) | $6,481.75 | $14,816.75 |
| B.S. total (8 semesters) | $51,862 | $118,570 |
| Graduate, 9 hours (fall) | $6,611.30 | $15,072.30 |
| Graduate, 9 hours (spring) | $6,602.30 | $15,056.30 |
| M.S. total (4 semesters) | $26,427 | $60,257 |
| LSU Online Program | Per Credit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate | $465 | $11,160 |
| B.S. | $465 | $57,195-$58,125 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | $465 | $8,370 |
| M.S. | $855 | $30,780 |
Campus rates come from LSU’s 2026-27 fee schedules; online rates come from each LSU Online program page.
Be aware that:
- The spring 2027 campus rates are labeled preliminary.
- The department’s own tuition page still shows older online rates ($814 per credit for the M.S. and $326 for the post-bacc certificate). LSU Online’s current pages show $855 and $465.
- LSU Online notes that some courses carry proctoring or book fees, and AIC exam fees are extra.
- LSU’s differential tuition FAQ says students still in University College are not charged the Tier 2 differential until admitted to their senior college, but they pay an $8 per credit advising fee. The B.S. estimate uses the Tier 2 rate for all 8 semesters.
Louisiana residents pay less on campus than online for the B.S. (about $51,900 vs. $57,200), but out-of-state students save roughly $60,000 by taking the same accredited degree online. At the graduate level, the online M.S. costs about $4,400 more than campus for residents and about $29,500 less for non-residents.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for students who want an ACCE-accredited bachelor’s or master’s from a large research university, especially out-of-state and working students who can take it online at one flat rate.
For students headed to industrial and heavy construction: The Industrial and Heavy Highway emphasis areas, the industrial M.S. electives, and an employer list heavy with Gulf Coast industrial contractors make LSU a direct route into plant, turnaround, and infrastructure work.
For transfer students: Graduates of Louisiana two-year programs such as Baton Rouge Community College’s A.A.S. or Nunez Community College’s transfer-focused A.S. can apply with a 2.5 transfer GPA, and the online B.S. accepts up to 75% of its credits in transfer. LSU lists no CM-specific articulation agreement, so credits are evaluated course by course.
For career changers: The post-bacc certificate and online M.S. form a stackable path. A bachelor’s holder in another field can level in for about $8,400, then finish the M.S. without a GRE.
The honest trade-off: The calculus and physics requirements, the structures and soils courses, and the College of Engineering admission gate make the B.S. harder to start than many management-focused degrees, and the internship is optional. Across town, Southern University’s B.S. costs less on campus and requires an internship, but it is not yet ACCE-accredited. ULM’s ACCE-accredited B.S. in Monroe stops at Trigonometry and Statistics.
Accreditation and Credentials
Louisiana State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Regional accreditation supports credit transfer and federal financial aid eligibility.
The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accredits both CM degrees. ACCE’s 2024-25 annual report lists the B.S. as last accredited 02/2023 with an expiration of 07/2030. ACCE renewed the M.S. for seven years at its February 2026 meeting, through July 31, 2033. LSU also describes the undergraduate certificate as ACCE-certified.
B.S. students can earn the OSHA Certified Occupational Safety Specialist credential and sit for the AIC Associate Constructor exam, which LSU administers as an AIC testing site. Both the undergraduate and post-baccalaureate certificates are positioned as AIC Level I exam preparation. LSU states that its programs do not directly lead to licensure; Louisiana contractor licenses are issued by the State Licensing Board for Contractors.