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Online Bachelor's in Government Contracting: 2026 Programs
A bachelor’s in government contracting is the standard undergraduate credential in this field. Common titles include BA/BS in Government Contracting and Acquisition, BS in Contracts and Acquisition Management. Typical length is about 120 semester hours. In IPEDS 2024, 14 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 14 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024). Of those, 6 reported bachelor’s completions.
Purchasing agents (the old 13-1023 title) are not published as a standalone detailed occupation in the May 2025 OEWS national file used on this site. Wage figures use purchasing managers, management analysts, compliance officers, and logisticians as the tracked occupations that actually do this work.
Quick answers
Can I get this degree online?
Yes. In IPEDS 2024, 14 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 14 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024).
What will I study?
Typical coursework includes federal acquisition regulation, contract types, cost and pricing, subcontract management, ethics, and a contract-file capstone.
What do graduates earn?
Purchasing Managers: The national median annual wage was $148,080, with the 10th percentile at $92,490 and the 90th at $223,280 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 83,500 in 2024, projected to grow 3.1 percent through 2034, with 6,400 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Individual outcomes vary.
Do I need a bachelor’s, or will a certificate do?
Certificates cover a tool. The bachelor’s is what most employers treat as the degree. If the job posting lists a bachelor’s as required, a certificate will not substitute.
How is accreditation handled?
There is no programmatic accreditor. NCMA’s CPCM/CFCM credentials are voluntary professional certificates. Institutional accreditation is the academic check. The Federal Acquisition Regulation is public; the degree is how you learn to work inside it.
At a Glance
- Common degree titles: BA/BS in Government Contracting and Acquisition, BS in Contracts and Acquisition Management
- IPEDS 2024 institutions (bachelor’s or higher): 14 (14 with a distance-education flag)
- Related fields: public administration, supply chain management, business administration
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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