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Regulatory compliance director education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a regulatory compliance director. Regulatory compliance directors usually study business, law, or biology. 67% of regulatory compliance directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 336 real regulatory compliance director resumes to see exactly what regulatory compliance director education sections show.

The most common colleges for regulatory compliance directors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online regulatory compliance director courses to help get the education required to be a regulatory compliance director.

What education do you need to become a regulatory compliance director?

What degree do you need to be a regulatory compliance director?

The most common degree for regulatory compliance directors is bachelor's degree, with 67% of regulatory compliance directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 67%
  • Master's, 16%
  • Doctorate, 10%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a regulatory compliance director?

You should major in business to become a regulatory compliance director. 20% of regulatory compliance directors major in business. Other common majors for a regulatory compliance director include law and biology.

Most common colleges for regulatory compliance directors

Regulatory compliance directors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Pittsburgh, and Georgia State University. Here are the most common colleges for regulatory compliance directors in the US based on their resumes.
Regulatory compliance director common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix11.32%
University of Pittsburgh7.55%
Georgia State University7.55%
George Washington University, The7.55%
University of Rhode Island5.66%

Best majors for regulatory compliance directors

RankMajorPercentages
1Business20.4%
2Law11.0%
3Biology9.4%
4Nursing7.9%
5Accounting5.8%

Best colleges for regulatory compliance directors

The best colleges for regulatory compliance directors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A regulatory compliance director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for regulatory compliance directors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become regulatory compliance directors.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for regulatory compliance directors

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1. Cybersecurity Management and Compliance

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2. What is Compliance?

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Compliance isn’t only about preventing problems and ensuring that everyone is abiding by laws, rules, and regulations. It’s also about the positive impact a robust and ethical compliance program can have on a business or organization. In this course we will discuss why compliance is important – from the needs facing businesses in highly regulated industries to avoiding fines and penalties to preventing reputational and economic nightmares. We’ll examine real-world examples of compliance and...

3. Pharmaceutical Industry Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)

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Empowering Professionals in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Comprehensive Online Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs...

4. Certificate Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)

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Pharma course (NDA, ANDA, CTD, DMF, USFDA, Regulatory strategy, GMP, Clinical Research, Orange Book, Pharmaceuticals)...

5. GST - Undertaking compliances

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Similar to any other tax system, compliances form the backbone of GST. GST compliances are primarily two-fold: registration and return filing. In this course, you will learn when to obtain registration, where to obtain it ,and the procedure to obtain registration. Thereafter, you will learn about the different returns under GST and the process of filing such returns along with the details required to be furnished. This course provides a platform for learners planning to launch their careers in...

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A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...

7. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM

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DRA, Orange book, USFDA, e CTD, CTD, INDA, NDA, ANDA, DMF, ICH, Software Demo, RA Jobs, Quiz, Pharma Skills, Updated 2023...

10. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply

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How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...

11. Compliance Training for Employees

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Compliance: a simple, comprehensive and effective way to protect your company!...

12. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices

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A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...

13. Cryptocurrency Financial Crime Compliance Bootcamp

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Blockchain/Crypto Financial Crime Money Laundering Terrorist Financing AML & CTF Regulation Compliance Tools...

14. Privacy and Data Protection, Certified GDPR Compliance

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From theory to practice (junior and less than 1 year experience level)...

15. 3-in-1 Banking, Banking Risk and Compliance Masterclass

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The essentials of the banking business (business model, compliance, others), financial risk management and compliance...

16. Understanding HIPAA Compliance

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This course helps you understand the various rules under HIPAA and how to be compliant with that...

17. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Compliance

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This course offers guidelines to recognizing, understanding and dealing with bribery, corruption and compliance...

18. The Ultimate Guide to Money Laundering and AML Compliance

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Learn the Fundamentals of Money Laundering and Gain Practical Insights into Anti Money Laundering Compliance...

19. AML Compliance in Practice: Suspicious Activity Reports

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Learn the Fundamentals of SAR Filing in Anti-Money Laundering Compliance/KYC & How to write a stellar SAR Narrative!...

20. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.

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Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...

Top 10 most affordable universities for regulatory compliance directors

The most affordable schools for regulatory compliance directors are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for regulatory compliance directors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for regulatory compliance directors.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for regulatory compliance directors

The hardest universities for regulatory compliance directors to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for regulatory compliance directors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for regulatory compliance directors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for regulatory compliance directors

The easiest schools for regulatory compliance directors to get into are Barry University, university of north texas at dallas, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a regulatory compliance director without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for regulatory compliance directors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

8. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average regulatory compliance director salary by education level

Regulatory compliance directors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $141,320 annually. With a Master's degree, regulatory compliance directors earn a median annual income of $133,382 compared to $118,600 for regulatory compliance directors with an Bachelor's degree.
Regulatory compliance director education levelRegulatory compliance director salary
Master's Degree$133,382
High School Diploma or Less$92,791
Bachelor's Degree$118,600
Doctorate Degree$141,320
Some College/ Associate Degree$97,636

Regulatory compliance director education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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