Value Colleges has announced its list of the nation’s best value online project management graduate programs, and UD's Master of Science in Information and Technology Management program is on that list. The program’s No. 19 ranking places it among other leading schools such as Northwestern University, Penn State University and the University of Maryland.

“We’re extremely proud of our practice-based Master of Science in Information and Technology Management as it allows our students to learn relevant topics in class today, then practice them at work tomorrow,” said Interim Dean Brett Landry of the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business. “This recognition affirms what we have known all along: that our graduate business programs are among the nation's best for working professionals.”

The STEM-designated 30-credit-hour program offered by the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business was designed for IT professionals pursuing leadership positions. It equips students with an intensive education in enterprise architecture, strategy and governance, project management, business analytics, ethics and sustainability that well prepares graduates for careers as project managers, information systems managers, systems software managers and chief information officer.

Project management, one of the world’s fastest-growing professions, is expected to increase nationally by nearly a million jobs from 2012 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Capable project managers are needed everywhere because experienced managers [are] aging, retiring or stepping back from their careers,” said Value Colleges Editor Carrie Sealey-Morris. “Working professionals have found it necessary to go back to school for further credentialing to set themselves apart on the job market or to qualify for promotion.”

The "Top 50 Best Value Online Project Management Graduate Programs of 2016" ranking is based on the U.S. News & World Report Ranking, Payscale’s 2015-16 Salary Report and tuition costs for each university. Bonus points were also given to institutions with GAC Accreditation (Project Management Institute). The Best Value ranking considers only regionally accredited universities and colleges and ranks them accordingly. For more information, visit www.valuecolleges.com/.