Research and Development Management programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their research and development management programs.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best research and development management schools.
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Choosing a Great Research and Development Management School
The research and development management program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Research and Development Management Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Research and Development Management School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Research and Development Management Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Research and Development Management Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Research and Development Management in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the research and development management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Research and Development Management
Johns Hopkins University tops our 2026 ranking of the best research and development management schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 19 research and development management degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Research And Development Management graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $113,065 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
See the full research and development management program report for Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #2 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for research and development management. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 15 research and development management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, research and development management degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $104,615. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Get the full research and development management details for Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong research and development management program will find one at Texas Christian University, which ranked #3. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Texas Christian University awarded about 18 research and development management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the research and development management program make about $91,327 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full research and development management program report for Texas Christian University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kansas one of the top schools for research and development management. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 research and development management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their research and development management degree from University Of Kansas earn around $76,029 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,469 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in research and development management from University Of Kansas
Arizona State University Skysong is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in research and development management, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. About 62 research and development management degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Students who receive their research and development management degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $86,867 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
More information about a degree in research and development management from Arizona State University Skysong
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #6 spot for research and development management this year. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 research and development management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent data year. Graduates of the research and development management program make about $54,955 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,508.
Read more about the research and development management program at University Of Southern Mississippi
Austin Peay State University landed the #7 spot for research and development management this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Austin Peay State University awarded about 12 research and development management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their research and development management degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $38,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,605.
Read more about the research and development management program at Austin Peay State University
Ashford University earned the #8 position for research and development management this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 10%. Ashford University awarded about 44 research and development management degrees in the most recent data year. Research And Development Management graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $67,902 early in their careers. Ashford University graduates carry a median of $35,861 in student loans.
Get the full research and development management details for Ashford University
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Research and Development Management Related Rankings by Major
Explore other rankings in majors related to Research and Development Management. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
