The best schools for product management offer highly specialized programs to prepare their students for high-paying leadership positions. Despite product management being one of the fastest-growing occupations in the world, there are very few schools offering a program solely focused on it. That being said, the best product management universities also happen to be some of the top schools in the country.
In this article, we take a look at the best product management colleges and universities, the programs they offer, and the product management jobs you can get after earning your degree. We’ll also help you determine whether or not a product management degree is worth it for you.
Best Product Management College and University Rankings: Top 10 Product Management Schools at a Glance
| School | State | Formats Available | US News Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | PA | In-person | 25 |
| Harvard Business School | MA | In-person | 2 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | In-person | 2 |
| New York University | NY | In-person | 28 |
| Northwestern University | IL | In-person | 9 |
| Stanford University | CA | In-person | 6 |
| University of California, Berkeley | CA | In-person | 22 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | CA | In-person | 20 |
| University of Southern California | CA | In-person, online | 27 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | TX | In-person, online | 38 |
Product Management School Rankings: Best Product Management Colleges and Universities
The best product management colleges and universities offer world-class programs that teach students the critical knowledge they need to lead product teams in organizations. These schools primarily offer graduate programs in product management or offer graduate business administration programs with a specialization in product management.
The Best Schools for Product Management: Types of College Degrees and University Programs Offered
The types of college degrees and university programs for product management are a product management community college certificate, product management associate degree, product management bachelor’s degree, product management master’s degree, product management graduate certificate, and product management doctorate.
Comparing Popular Degree Options
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Best Product Management Schools: Other Product Management University Rankings
The best product management schools equip their students with technical and soft skills to lead product teams and help students meet their goals in product management. Our product management university rankings contain a list of the best schools to attend for a product management program.
Best Online Product Management Schools
- Capitol Technology University. This school offers an online PhD in Product Management and invites industry representatives to help prepare students for their eventual venture into the industry. This approach ideally helps them land leadership roles in the product management field within a few months of graduation.
- The University of Texas at Austin. This school offers an online Master of Science in Technology Commercialization and provides specialized, hands-on courses in product development and production, technology and business risk, and innovative management.
- University of Southern California. USC offers an online Master of Science in Product Development Engineering. This is an interdisciplinary program consisting of management, engineering, and art courses where students learn to manage the production process from conception to deployment.
Best Community Colleges for Product Management
- Chippewa Valley Technical College. This school offers an Associate of Science in Business Management with courses in marketing, accounting, ethics, economics, management, and international business. The school’s annual cost of attendance is quite low.
- Lake Michigan College. The Associate of Business Administration program at Lake Michigan College provides students with a well-rounded education. Its business courses in organizational behavior, accounting, marketing, and communication can be completed in 20 months.
- Thomas Nelson Community College. This business administration associate degree teaches its students foundational knowledge in business, accounting, and economics, allowing them to eventually pursue careers in product management, management information, health services information, and economics.
Best Undergraduate Schools for Product Management
- National University. This Bachelor of Business Administration provides its students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the business world. Students can pick from different concentrations, including marketing, project management, economics, finance, and supply chain marketing.
- Husson University. Husson University offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing Management and is designed to help students develop expertise in business operations. It has courses in management, public relations, accounting, and marketing.
- University of Florida. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management at the University of Florida trains its students to become goal-oriented leaders in the industry. Its curriculum includes accounting, entrepreneurship, communication studies, and statistics courses.
Best Graduate Schools for Product Management
- Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Product Management employs an interdisciplinary approach to provide the business, design, leadership, and technology skills needed for a career in product management
- New York University. This Master of Business Administration with a tech product management specialization allows its students to learn how to create, design, and deploy products for technology businesses.
- University of Southern California. USC offers a Master of Science in Product Development Engineering, which teaches product development from an engineering perspective rather than a business perspective. This is a great program for more scientifically-inclined students.
Best Product Management Schools With Dual Degree Programs
- Walden University | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Dual Degree and Global Business Concentration Programs. This dual degree program provides students with the tools needed to build a career in businesses that focus on technological innovation. Its students gain a variety of business skills and learn how to create a comprehensive business plan. This program also leads to the Walden MBA program.
- Kennesaw State University | Dual MBA-MSIS. This dual graduate degree provides valuable skills for students wanting to start their careers as technology leaders in a business environment. In it, students learn about best business practices and strategic technology skills.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Master of Business Administration. This dual degree is a product of the Sloan School of Management and School of Engineering. It equips students with the technical skills needed to become innovative product professionals.
Best Schools With Accelerated Product Management Programs
- Boston University | BS in Management Studies-Accelerated. Boston University’s accelerated program provides its students with a solid foundation in finance, ecommerce, project management, market analysis, and operations management. The program can be completed in two years.
- Capella University | Bachelor of Science in Business. This program provides its students with advanced knowledge of management techniques and strategic business skills. Students learn how to use human and technological resources to achieve organizational goals.
- City University of Seattle | Bachelor of Science in Project Management. This program teaches its students the vital practical skills, leadership skills, and team development skills needed to become leaders in a project-based business environment.
Easy Colleges to Get Into
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Is Graduate School for Product Management Worth It?
Yes, it is worth going to graduate school for product management. Graduate school is the only place that really offers the dedicated product management skills, education, and hands-on experience needed to lead product development teams in the industry. Through internships, in-class projects, and capstone projects, students can gain valuable experience and build their portfolios.
What Jobs Can You Do With a Product Management Degree?
The jobs you can do with a product management degree are leadership roles such as an associate product manager, mid-level product manager, senior product manager, group product manager, and director of product management. The best schools for product management will equip you with the skills needed for these roles and offer career services and mentorship to help you meet your career goals.
How Much Can I Earn With a Degree in Product Management?
You can earn up to $107,000 per year with a degree in product management, according to PayScale. Your actual annual salary will depend on your level of education, experience, employer, job title, and location. Master’s degree holders in product management have a higher median salary than bachelor’s or associate degree holders.
Highest-Paying Product Management Careers
| Profession | Minimum Education | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Product Officer | Master’s degree | $195,438 |
| Vice President of Product Management | Master’s degree | $172,490 |
| Principal Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $154,794 |
| Group Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $151,039 |
| Director of Product Management | Bachelor’s degree | $149,668 |
| Senior Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $128,156 |
| Global Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $107,318 |
| Mobile Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $102,750 |
| Software Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $100,498 |
| Product Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $88,660 |
Best Jobs With a Product Management Degree
The best jobs with a product management degree are jobs that typically require a bachelor’s or master’s degree such as chief product officer, vice president of product management, principal product manager, group product manager, or director of product management. A product management role available for someone with a lower degree is usually entry-level and limited in scope and growth.
How Can I Pay for Product Management School?
You can pay for product management school by paying the tuition up front or through the help of loans, scholarships and grants, and federal funding. The average cost of tuition for a product management program can be difficult for students to pay outright. Fortunately, there are many available financing options that can ease the financial burden higher education entails.
- Loan financing. Students can apply for loans from the federal government or from private institutions to finance their tuition expenses. A report by the National Center for Education Statistics indicated that 51.8 percent of students who completed their degree program received federal loans.
- Scholarships. There are many scholarship opportunities available to product management students studying at an accredited school. Keep in mind, however, that most scholarships are merit-based and have relatively competitive eligibility requirements.
- Federal Funding. One of the easiest ways to pay for your education is through federal funding. As you apply for schools, many will require you to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, which takes into consideration your financial status.
How to Pay for Your Chosen School Education Path
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Choosing the Best Product Management School for You
To choose the best product management school for you, you should consider certain factors including the school’s accreditation, retention rate, cost, and flexibility and format, as well as your career goals. It is crucial that you take the time to review your available options and pick the one that fits you best. Here’s a more detailed explanation.
Accreditation
You should know if the school has been approved and accredited by the appropriate regional and national accrediting bodies. Attending an in-person or online accredited university shows potential employers that you have graduated from a school that satisfies the academic standards required to be able to offer product management degree programs.
Cost
The cost of a product management degree depends on the school. Private universities have a higher tuition rate than public universities. You should consider your budget and how much money you can and are willing to spend on your education. Don’t forget to keep in mind additional costs such as living, transportation, and study materials.
Flexibility and Format
The best schools for product management offer both in-person and online degrees. It’s up to you to choose which learning format satisfies your learning preferences. Students who prefer to attend classes from the comfort of their homes should look for online degrees while those who prefer a dedicated learning environment should apply for in-person degree programs.
Retention Rate
A school’s retention rate measures the percentage of students who continued in the school past their first academic session. If the school’s retention rate is low, it means students are not completing their degree programs. This is a potential red flag and may be a sign that there is a problem with the school’s programs.
Career Goals
Most importantly, you should consider your career goals. How can the degree you choose provide the best possible education in product management you need to succeed in the industry? It is a good idea to check a program’s career outcomes. If they align with your career goals, then the program should be a good fit for you.
How to Get Into the Right School for Your Profession
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Does It Matter What College I Go to for Product Management?
Yes, it does matter what college you go to for product management. The best schools for product management offer world-class instruction, alumni benefits, and the potential to earn a great income. In fact, according to PayScale’s 2021-22 College Salary Report, top school graduates tend to earn higher salaries.
Product Management University Ranking Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Schools for Product Management
We ranked the best product management schools by consulting the university rankings conducted by US News & World Report and Times Higher Education. To further refine our product management university ranking methodology, we gave special consideration to things like reputation, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and breadth and depth of product management degree program offerings.
Additional Reading About Product Management
[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-school-job-outcomes-review/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-school-future-of-product-management/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/product-school-why-learn-product-management/
Best Product Management Schools FAQ
The best undergraduate degrees for product management are in business administration, economics, marketing, technology, and public relations. These degrees will teach you the required skills you need to build a career in product management or continue your studies in a specialized master’s program.
No, product managers don’t need an MBA. An MBA is not a prerequisite to becoming a product manager. That being said, an MBA program is one of the best places to learn the product management, technological, and business frameworks product managers need to be successful in the industry. An MBA can also lead to higher product manager salaries.
The best product management certifications are AIPMM Certified Product Marketing Manager, AIPMM Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner, Software Product Management, Digital Product Management, and One Week Technical Product Manager.
Yes, project managers are in huge demand. They have projected job growth of 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
