Building Construction Schools and Programs in The United States

Building Construction Studies in The United States

Building construction as a field of study covers how buildings are planned, estimated, scheduled and built, and how construction projects are managed on site and in the office. In the United States it is usually taught as construction management, construction science or construction technology rather than as a craft trade. Programmes sit between engineering, architecture and business, and they prepare students for supervisory and management roles with contractors, developers and owners.

How the programmes are organised

• Certificates at community and technical colleges, for example in surveying and estimating
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in building or construction technology, usually two years
• Bachelor's degrees in construction management or construction science, usually four years of full-time study
• Master's degrees and doctorates in construction management or building construction at research universities

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bachelor's programmes in construction-related majors often include project control and management, design, construction methods and materials, and cost estimation. Ferris State University in Michigan shows how the levels connect: its AAS in Building Construction Technology covers subjects such as construction estimating, and is a direct pathway to its Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, which students enter after an associate degree. This mirrors the "2+2" model described by EducationUSA, in which two years at a community college are followed by two years at a university.

At graduate level, the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology offers a B.S. in Construction Science and Management, an M.S. in Building Construction & Facility Management and a Ph.D. in Building Construction. The M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida offers a master's degree in construction management and a PhD concentration in the field.

Accreditation and licensing

US institutions are accredited by independent bodies at national or regional level, and construction programmes can also hold programme-level accreditation. The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) accredits construction education programmes at colleges and universities; Ferris State's B.S. in Construction Management is ACCE-accredited. Engineering technology programmes may be accredited by ABET: Greenville Technical College's associate degree in Construction Engineering Technology is accredited by ABET's Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission.

Contractor licences are issued by each state. Greenville Technical College, for example, states that its graduates are prepared to take the South Carolina General Contractors and Residential Contractors exams, and that candidates must have one year of work experience under a licensed contractor.

Admission and visa

For a bachelor's degree, EducationUSA states that applicants generally need to have completed high school and be at least 17, that US universities require an English language proficiency test, and that applications for a September start are typically due between November and January. Teaching is in English. Degree students normally hold an F student visa; the M student visa covers non-academic or vocational study, which can apply to some technical programmes. The college's international office confirms which visa applies.

Where to study building construction in the United States

The 20 schools listed for this subject combine large universities with community and technical colleges. Universities include Purdue University in West Lafayette, the University of Florida in Gainesville, the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ferris State University in Big Rapids and Idaho State University in Pocatello, while New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies serves students in New York City. Community and technical colleges include Greenville Technical College and Piedmont Technical College in South Carolina, Onondaga Community College and Erie Community College in New York State, and Broward College in Florida.

Careers

Graduates work as project engineers, estimators, schedulers, site supervisors and, with experience, construction managers. The BLS reports that construction managers typically need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, engineering or a related field, that some hold an associate's degree, and that large firms may prefer candidates with both construction experience and a construction-related bachelor's degree. Employment of construction managers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, and the median annual wage was $114,990 in May 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Is construction management the same as civil engineering?

No. Civil engineering focuses on designing structures and infrastructure, while construction management focuses on estimating, scheduling and running the building process. The BLS lists construction, business and engineering degrees as typical routes into construction management.

Can I start at a community college?

Yes. An associate degree in building or construction technology can lead to a bachelor's degree; Ferris State, for example, admits associate graduates to its B.S. in Construction Management.

Which accreditation should I look for?

For construction management degrees, ACCE accreditation; for engineering technology degrees, ABET accreditation. Both are programme-level accreditations on top of the institution's own accreditation.

Do I need a licence to work in construction?

Contractor licences are regulated by each state. In South Carolina, for example, Greenville Technical College points to state contractor exams and one year of work experience under a licensed contractor.