Please note there is no application fee for graduate applications submitted by the Priority Deadline.

Research administration and compliance expertise is needed across a diverse group of organizations, including academic institutions, research institutes and centers, hospitals, clinics, and the pharmaceutical industry. Each step within the life cycle of research is governed by complex regulations that overlap in their functions, and require high-level expertise to integrate concepts, policy requirements, and ethical considerations to assess, improve, and develop research programs. 

The MS in Research Administration and Compliance online degree program creates a clear, attainable career path for research administration and compliance staff to become highly skilled leaders. The program guides professionals to make effective business decisions for their research enterprises by focusing on the following areas:

• Financial stewardship of research funds
• Ethical and compliant conduct of research
• Clinical research administration and compliance
• Intellectual property issues
• Policy development and implementation
• Organizational behavior and leadership

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Research Administration and Compliance professionals Do?

Read the article, ‘We’re problem solvers’: research administrators offer guidance to working scientists featuring our own faculty member, Debra Schaller-Demers.

Meet Some of Our Recent Faculty

• James Casey
• Rosemarie Gagliardi
• Nicholas Grosskopf
• Debra Schaller-Demers
• Henry Silverman
• Kristin Sommer
• Anthony Sterns

Career Prospects

According to PayScale.com, typical salaries for research administration managers across the U.S. range between $75,875 and $137,189 per year. Similarly, compliance managers can earn between $75,420 and $115,467 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for research administrators and compliance officers to grow by 9.9% and 8.2%, respectively, by 2026.

Students graduating from the MS in Research Administration and Compliance program can expect to become administrators at academic institutions, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. With sufficient experience, graduates can aim to become leaders holding senior executive positions within these areas. Numerous and diverse career positions within these sectors include, but are not limited to: Contracts and Compliance Manager, Director of Sponsored Programs, Executive Director of Clinical Research Administration, Vice President or Vice Provost for Research Administration and/or Compliance, Research Program Manager, Grants Administrator, Clinical Research Quality Assurance Director, Research Finance and Post Award Administrator, Research Compliance Officer.

NCURA Education Scholarship Fund

The Education Scholarship Fund awards $2,500 scholarships to research administrators who have been National Council of University Research Administration members for at least one year and who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in research administration.