Construction Management Program • San Diego, CA • Campus • $48/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
San Diego Mesa College offers 2 construction management pathways:
- Construction Management, A.S.
- Building Inspection and Construction Management, Certificate of Achievement
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S. | $2.9K in-state / $25.5K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 60 (30 in the major) |
| Certificate | $1.4K in-state / $12.7K out-of-state | 1 year (2 semesters) | 30 |
Tuition estimates use the $46 per unit California community college enrollment fee plus San Diego Mesa College’s health and representation fees; out-of-state adds $377 per unit in nonresident tuition for 2026-27.
- Why choose it: San Diego Mesa College’s major requires construction management taught with Project Management Institute methodology, a separate planning and scheduling course, estimating, contractor’s license law, and two codes courses.
- Trade-off: No internship is required, and the codes-heavy coursework and the inspection-focused certificate show the program also serves future inspectors.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | Construction Management, A.S.; Building Inspection and Construction Management, Certificate of Achievement |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | San Diego, CA |
| Credit Hours | 60 (A.S., 30 in the major); 30 (certificate) |
| Internship | Not required; CMGT 115 includes field observation or participation |
| Programmatic Accreditation | None stated |
| Software Taught | AutoCAD or Revit (A.S.) |
| License Prep | CMGT 220 prepares students for the License Law portion of California contractor’s license exams |
| Catalog | 2026-27 |
| Tuition | $46 per unit in-state; $423 per unit out-of-state |
Construction Management, A.S.
The estimated tuition for the Construction Management A.S. at San Diego Mesa College is approximately $2,860 in-state (60 credits at $47.67/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus health and representation fees for 4 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (4 semesters).
The Construction Management A.S. prepares students for a construction management career and for transfer to a four-year program, per San Diego Mesa College. The college describes the program as covering project planning, cost management, time management, quality control, safety management, and contract administration. The 30-unit major is combined with general education and electives to reach 60 units. The out-of-state estimate is about $25,480.
A.S. Curriculum
All 30 major units are required, with one software choice.
- Management and contracting (4 courses, 12 units): CMGT 130 Construction Management, CMGT 230 Construction Planning and Scheduling, CMGT 205 Estimating, and CMGT 220 Building Contractor’s License Law.
- Plans, methods, and materials (3 courses, 9 units): CMGT 110 Construction Plan Reading, CMGT 115 Construction Methods, and ARCH 130 Materials of Construction.
- Codes (2 courses, 6 units): CMGT 120 Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Codes and CMGT 125 Building Codes and Zoning.
- Software (choose one, 3 units): ARCH 112 AutoCAD or ARCH 107 Revit.
CMGT 130 covers scope, contracts, time, cost, quality, resource, communications, risk, and procurement management using PMI vocabulary, and CMGT 230 builds on it with developing, monitoring, and modifying project schedules. CMGT 205 covers quantity takeoffs, pricing, markups, and overhead.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- CMGT 130 is advised before CMGT 230.
- All major courses are letter-grade only and are listed as transferable to the CSU.
- Mesa College advises planning the program with a department member.
A.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No internship or co-op is listed.
- Field component: CMGT 115 Construction Methods includes field experience observing or participating in construction operations.
- Hours, pay, and employer partners: Not clearly stated.
Learning outcomes include team projects, role-playing, and presenting solutions to faculty, visiting critics, and clients, per San Diego Mesa College.
A.S. Admissions
San Diego Mesa College is open-enrollment, and the program lists no separate admission requirements.
- Prerequisites: None of the major courses has a required prerequisite; some list advisories.
- Transfer: Students planning to transfer should map general education with a counselor.
Building Inspection and Construction Management, Certificate of Achievement
The estimated tuition for the Building Inspection and Construction Management Certificate of Achievement at San Diego Mesa College is approximately $1,430 in-state (30 credits at $47.67/credit, derived from $46 per unit plus fees for 2 semesters).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 year (2 semesters) at 15 units per semester (derived).
The Building Inspection and Construction Management certificate prepares students for inspector or supervisory positions, per San Diego Mesa College. The out-of-state estimate is about $12,740.
- Courses (10 courses, 30 units): the nine required A.S. courses (CMGT 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 205, 220, 230, and ARCH 130) plus CMGT 135 Building Inspection in place of the software course.
CMGT 135 is aimed in part at students seeking International Code Council inspection certifications, so the certificate suits those keeping both inspection and management careers open.
Tuition
All students pay the $46 per unit enrollment fee plus a $23 health fee and a $2 representation fee each fall and spring semester. Nonresidents add $377 per unit in tuition for 2026-27.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrollment fee (all students) | $46 per unit |
| Nonresident tuition | +$377 per unit |
| Health fee | $23 per fall or spring semester |
| Student representation fee | $2 per semester |
- A.S. estimate: 60 × $46 = $2,760, plus 4 × $25 ($100), for $2,860 in-state; 60 × $423 + $100 = $25,480 out-of-state (derived).
- Certificate estimate: 30 × $46 = $1,380, plus 2 × $25 ($50), for $1,430 in-state; 30 × $423 + $50 = $12,740 out-of-state (derived).
Be aware that:
- San Diego Mesa College’s $377 nonresident rate for 2026-27 matches the state’s report.
- The optional $8 Associated Students membership, parking permits, and books are not included.
- The California College Promise Grant waives the enrollment fee for eligible California residents.
At under $3,000 in-state, the A.S. costs a fraction of a bachelor’s degree at San Diego State, one of the San Diego construction management bachelor’s programs profiled here. See San Diego Mesa College’s cost of attendance.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
San Diego Mesa College gives San Diego students a compact, project-management-centered construction management major.
Students aiming at project engineer or assistant project manager roles: Required project management, scheduling, and estimating courses cover the core of office-side construction work.
Future contractors: CMGT 220 prepares students for the License Law portion of the California contractor’s license exam.
Students wanting an architecture-practice approach: Those who want construction taught through design and construction documents can compare Southwestern College.
Accreditation and Credentials
San Diego Mesa College 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 San Diego Mesa College’s construction management programs.
Neither program embeds an industry certification; CMGT 220 prepares students for part of the state contractor’s license exam.