NewSchool of Architecture and Design • San Diego, CA • Campus and Online • $874/Quarter Credit (incl. fees)
NewSchool of Architecture and Design offers 2 construction management pathways:
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $157.3K (all students) | 3 years (12 quarters, year-round) | 180 quarter credits |
| MCM | $35.0K (all students) | About 1 year (4 terms) | 48 quarter credits |
Tuition estimates use NewSchool’s 2026-27 per-credit rates plus a $200 per-quarter operation fee and a $250 graduation fee; all students pay the same rate.
- Why choose it: NewSchool’s B.S. runs year-round to finish in 3 years inside an architecture and design school, with a three-course estimating and scheduling sequence, while its one-year Master of Construction Management costs about $35,000 online or on campus.
- Trade-off: NewSchool is a for-profit institution, neither program holds ACCE or ABET accreditation, and the B.S. costs about $157,300 with no required internship.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management; Master of Construction Management (MCM) |
| Format | B.S. full-time on campus; MCM online or on campus |
| Campus Location | San Diego, CA (East Village) |
| Credit Hours | 180 quarter credits (B.S.); 48 quarter credits (MCM) |
| Internship | Not required; NewSchool cites internship opportunities and site visits |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None; NewSchool lists ACCE as a membership, not an accreditation |
| Software Taught | Digital rendering and modeling (CM 2311), model management (CM 455), and virtual design and construction (MCM); specific software not named |
| Industry Certifications | None embedded |
| Online Eligibility | Online MCM limited to residents of AK, AZ, CA, IL, MA, NJ, OH, and TX |
| Tuition | $859 per credit (B.S.); $708 per credit (MCM), 2026-27 |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at NewSchool is approximately $157,270 (180 quarter credits at $873.72/credit, derived from $859 per credit plus 12 quarters of operation fees and a graduation fee).
The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (12 quarters, year-round).
The B.S. in Construction Management is a full-time, on-campus program of 180 quarter credits, roughly equal to 120 semester credits, delivered across fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters. It is not offered online.
B.S. Curriculum
The 2025-26 outline splits the degree into 101 required lecture credits, 58 integrative studies credits, and 21 professional elective credits.
- Estimating, scheduling, and cost control (5 courses, 23 credits): CM 202 Construction Estimating, CM 306 Fundamentals of Construction Scheduling, CM 303 Advanced Scheduling and Estimating Controls, CM 352 Construction Finance and Accounting, and CM 5521 Life Cycle Cost Accounting.
- Construction practice and quality (5 courses, 20 credits): CM 153 Introduction to Construction Management and Team Building, CM 301 Residential and Light Commercial Construction, CM 302 Commercial Construction Practices, CM 452 Heavy/Civil Construction, and CM 454 Construction Inspection and Quality Control.
- Management, law, and delivery (5 courses, 18 credits): CM 451 Project Management, CM 401 Project Delivery Systems, CM 5431 Jobsite Leadership and Management, CM 353 Construction Safety, and CM 354 Construction Law.
- Documents and digital tools (4 courses, 16 credits): CM 201 Construction Graphics and Documents, CM 5211 Plan Reading: Analog and Digital, CM 2311 Introduction to Digital Rendering and Modeling, and CM 455 Managing Models of the Built Environment.
- Building and structural systems (4 courses, 13 credits): AR 271 and AR 372 Building Systems I and II, AR 321 Structural Systems I, and CM 222 Structures.
- Sustainability and capstone (2 courses, 11 credits): CM 5311 Green Building Laboratory and CM 403 Senior Capstone Integration Project.
- Integrative studies (19 courses, 58 credits): accounting, business law, management, real estate principles, micro- and macroeconomics, geometry, two physics courses, geology, writing, speech, ethics, psychology, research, and a foreign language.
- Professional electives (21 credits): courses from NewSchool programs, approved by the academic unit.
NewSchool spends 23 credits on estimating, scheduling, and cost control, and shares building systems and structures courses with its architecture programs. Its math requirement is a single geometry course, lighter than the calculus required at most programs profiled here.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The program page lists “180 Hours” as total credits; the outline confirms these are 180 credits on NewSchool’s quarter system.
- The course list comes from the 2025-26 program outline; the 2026-27 outline was not available.
- Part-time enrollment is possible but may affect financial aid.
- Professional electives are not listed and must be approved by the academic unit.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No internship course appears in the outline.
- Field trips: many classes visit active construction sites, per NewSchool.
- Competitions and projects: NAHB and DBIA student competitions and a cross-disciplinary airport terminal project with other NewSchool programs.
- Hours, pay, and employer partners: Not clearly stated.
Without a required internship, NewSchool’s year-round schedule leaves little summer time for jobsite work, so students should look for part-time positions during the program. NewSchool claims 100% job placement and says 2024 graduates found industry jobs within 6 months.
B.S. Admissions
NewSchool admits construction management students without a portfolio.
- First-year students: high school diploma or equivalent, a 2.5 high school GPA, and a statement of purpose.
- Transfer students: a 2.5 cumulative college GPA; 15 or more quarter credits qualify for transfer status.
Master of Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the Master of Construction Management at NewSchool is approximately $35,034 (48 quarter credits at $729.88/credit, derived from $708 per credit plus 4 terms of operation fees and a graduation fee).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (4 terms).
The Master of Construction Management is a 48-credit degree for working professionals, offered online or on campus. NewSchool launched the online version in 2011 as its first fully online program.
MCM Curriculum
- Practice and technology (3 courses, 18 credits): CM 601 Current Practices in Construction Management, CM 602 Virtual Design and Construction, and CM 603 Emerging Trends in Project Management.
- Cost, design, and delivery (3 courses, 18 credits): CM 604 Project Feasibility and Cost Controls, CM 651 Commercial Design and Construction Methods, and CM 652 Advanced Project Delivery Systems.
- Leadership and capstone (2 courses, 12 credits): CM 653 Leadership Challenges in Construction Management and CM 654 Capstone: Project Integration.
The MCM is a fixed eight-course sequence with no electives, centered on virtual design and construction, feasibility, and delivery methods for students moving into project leadership.
You Should Know
- Online enrollment is open only to residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas.
- The catalog prints the graduate GPA minimum as “3.027,” which appears to be 3.0 followed by a footnote marker.
- The course list comes from the 2025-26 program outline.
MCM Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No.
- Capstone: CM 654 Capstone: Project Integration, such as a hotel project example cited by NewSchool.
The MCM assumes students are already working in or near construction, so applied work comes through the capstone rather than placements.
MCM Admissions
NewSchool’s graduate admission follows a standard application review, with a possible interview.
- Degree and GPA: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of about 3.0.
- Materials: transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a one- to two-page statement of purpose; no portfolio.
- Interview: possible, by phone or online for applicants outside San Diego.
Tuition
For 2026-27, NewSchool charges $859 per credit for the B.S. and $708 per credit for the MCM, plus a $200 operation fee each quarter and a $250 graduation fee. All students pay the same rate.
| Item (2026-27) | B.S. (180 credits) | MCM (48 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $154,620 | $33,984 |
| Operation fees ($200 per quarter) | $2,400 (12 quarters) | $800 (4 terms) |
| Graduation fee | $250 | $250 |
| Total | $157,270 | $35,034 |
- B.S. estimate: 180 × $859 = $154,620, plus $2,650 in fees, for $157,270 (derived).
- MCM estimate: 48 × $708 = $33,984, plus $1,050 in fees, for $35,034 (derived).
Be aware that:
- Estimates apply 2026-27 rates to all quarters; later years may cost more.
- NewSchool offered a $1,500 early admission scholarship for fall 2026 MCM applicants, not reflected here.
- Housing, meals, books, and equipment are not included.
NewSchool’s B.S. costs about four times San Diego State’s in-state estimate, while its MCM costs well under USC’s master’s degrees but more than in-state tuition at CSUN. See NewSchool’s 2026-27 costs sheet.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
NewSchool’s two programs serve different students, and the case for each is narrow.
The B.S. for a fast, design-centered degree: Students who want to finish in 3 years, work alongside architecture and design students, and avoid calculus get that at NewSchool, at a price well above public options.
The MCM for a one-year online master’s: Working professionals in the eight eligible states can earn a master’s in about a year for roughly $35,000, far less than USC and with an online option not advertised by the CSU programs profiled here.
Check before enrolling: Because NewSchool is for-profit and neither program is ACCE- or ABET-accredited, students should confirm that target employers and any later graduate programs accept the degree.
Accreditation and Credentials
NewSchool of Architecture and Design is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and approved by California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
NewSchool’s NAAB accreditation covers only its architecture degrees. The catalog lists the American Council for Construction Education as a membership, not an accreditation, and the B.S. does not appear on ACCE’s baccalaureate list (Rev. 2024.03.13).
Neither program embeds an industry certification.