by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Clinical Research Coordinator involves the study of Clinical Research Coordinator. A Program That Prepares Individuals For Careers As Clinical Research Administrators Or Clinical Research Coordinators Where They Work Under The Supervision Of A Principal Investigator To Organize, Coordinate And Administer Clinical Research Trials. Includes Instruction In Pharmacology, Medical Terminology, Foundations Of Clinical Research, Project Management, Ethics, Research Design And Data Management, And Legal And Regulatory Compliance . Examples: [Clinical Research Trial Coordination], [Clinical Trials Research], [Clinical Trials Management]. Continue reading for the important information every clinical research coordinator student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering clinical research coordinator programs.
Across the country, clinical research coordinator is a popular field of study, with 347 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Clinical Research Coordinator Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical research coordinator students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical research coordinator programs later in this article.
Studies in Clinical Research Coordinator emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations clinical research coordinator graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a clinical research coordinator program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a clinical research coordinator major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several clinical research coordinator 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 34 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 293 |
People currently working in careers related to clinical research coordinator tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.3% |
| Master’s degree | 16.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in clinical research coordinator careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying clinical research coordinator can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to clinical research coordinator.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical research coordinator.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of clinical research coordinator graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,041 |
| 4 years | $36,054 |
| 5 years | $40,847 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for clinical research coordinator graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers clinical research coordinator grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
With 16 different clinical research coordinator programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased clinical research coordinator school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in clinical research coordinator, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
