by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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. Continue reading for the essential details every regulatory science/affairs student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering regulatory science/affairs programs.
In the U.S., regulatory science/affairs draws strong interest, with 106 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Regulatory Science/Affairs Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for regulatory science/affairs students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of regulatory science/affairs programs later in this article.
Programs in Regulatory Science/Affairs build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations regulatory science/affairs graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a regulatory science/affairs program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a regulatory science/affairs major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several regulatory science/affairs 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 32 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 74 |
People currently working in careers related to regulatory science/affairs tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in regulatory science/affairs careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in regulatory science/affairs prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to regulatory science/affairs.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to regulatory science/affairs.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of regulatory science/affairs 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 regulatory science/affairs graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers regulatory science/affairs grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 6 different regulatory science/affairs programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased regulatory science/affairs school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in regulatory science/affairs, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
