by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Institutional Research involves the study of A Program Of Study That Prepares An Individual To Be An Institutional Researcher At A Postsecondary Educational Institution. Includes Instruction In Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Mining, Higher Education Administration And Organization, Research Methods, And Statistics. Read on to learn the key facts every institutional research major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering institutional research programs.
In the U.S., institutional research is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Institutional Research Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for institutional research students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of institutional research programs later in this article.
Coursework for Institutional Research build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations institutional research graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a institutional research program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a institutional research major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several institutional research degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to institutional research tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in institutional research careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in institutional research can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to institutional research.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to institutional research.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Biostatisticians | 76,966 | 7.4% |
| Survey Researchers | 76,556 | 11.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of institutional research graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,037 |
| 4 years | $57,700 |
| 5 years | $64,541 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for institutional research graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers institutional research grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Survey Researchers | $108,538 |
| Management Analysts | $51,034 |
With 1 different institutional research programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased institutional research school rankings to help you.
Students interested in institutional research, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Learning Sciences | 4,044 |
| Educational Evaluation and Research | 789 |
| Educational Statistics and Research Methods | 351 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other | 298 |
| Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement | 206 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
