by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 318 degrees and certificates in Research and Development Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Research and Development Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
A major in Research and Development Management involves the study of Research And Development Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Projects, Programs And Organizations Involving Basic And Applied Research, Or Specialized Technology Applications, In The Public Or Private Sectors. Includes Instruction In All Aspects Of Business Management Applied To The Leadership And Control Of Scientific, Clinical, Engineering And Social Scientific Enterprises; The Management Of Related Operational, Security And Logistical Issues; And Technical Competence In One Or More Research Disciplines.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, research and development management draws strong interest, with 318 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award research and development management degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 66.
By level, the 318 awards include 8 associate degrees, 23 bachelor’s degrees, 286 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of research and development management degrees and certificates in the latest year (169 of 318). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (167) and Black or African American (38), and international students earned 18.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Research and Development Management Schools ranking, including 9 for bachelor’s degrees and 10 for master’s degrees. It also ranks research and development management schools within 8 states. In all, 24 colleges offer research and development management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Research and Development Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common research and development management credential is the master’s degree: 286 of the 318 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to research and development management call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a research and development management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 286 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to research and development management, at 52.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Research and Development Management, with an average median salary of $123,438; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Manager, Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager and Research Coordinator.
The occupation related to research and development management with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
Research and Development Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to research and development management is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
Research and Development Management has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 421,434 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Organizational Leadership (16,833) and Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 352,768 |
| Organizational Leadership | 16,833 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Project Management | 6,038 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Retail Management | 1,363 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 805 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
