by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 95 degrees and certificates in Regulatory Science/Affairs. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Regulatory Science/Affairs Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing, rising to $45,915 after four years.
Studying Regulatory Science/Affairs covers A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Regulatory Process For Companies Innovating And Developing Cutting Edge Products In Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, And Medicine. Includes Instruction In Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Documentation, Human And Animal Subject Protection, Food And Drug Administration (Fda) Regulations, Data Management And Analysis, Good Manufacturing Practices, And Quality Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., regulatory science/affairs draws strong interest, with 95 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award regulatory science/affairs degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 55.
By level, the 95 awards include 32 bachelor’s degrees and 63 master’s degrees.
Women earned 77% of regulatory science/affairs degrees and certificates in the latest year (73 of 95). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (43) and Hispanic or Latino (17), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Regulatory Science/Affairs Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks regulatory science/affairs schools within 1 state. In all, 7 colleges offer regulatory science/affairs programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Regulatory Science/Affairs Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common regulatory science/affairs credential is the master’s degree: 63 of the 95 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to regulatory science/affairs call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a regulatory science/affairs degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 32 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 63 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to regulatory science/affairs, at 55.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.0% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Regulatory Science/Affairs, with an average median salary of $85,814; the strongest outlook belongs to Regulatory Affairs Specialists, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Compliance Coordinator, Compliance Analyst, Regulatory Compliance Specialist and Regulatory Analyst.
The occupation related to regulatory science/affairs with the most projected jobs is Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers, at 735,120.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 373,276 | 14.4% |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | 370,977 | 3.7% |
| Customs Brokers | 249,561 | 5.2% |
| Compliance Officers | 184,804 | 8.6% |
Regulatory Science/Affairs graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing their program, $45,915 after four years and $40,536 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,689 |
| 4 years | $45,915 |
| 5 years | $40,536 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to regulatory science/affairs is Medical and Health Services Managers, with a median salary of $129,557.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | $85,399 |
| Compliance Officers | $71,138 |
| Customs Brokers | $67,529 |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | $52,280 |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | $50,883 |
Regulatory Science/Affairs has 23 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 88,910 degrees a year; the largest are Health/Health Care Administration/Management (28,683), Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician (12,262) and Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (11,432). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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