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Research investigator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a research investigator. Research investigators usually study chemistry, biology, or biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. 54% of research investigators hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 1,254 real research investigator resumes to see exactly what research investigator education sections show.
The most common colleges for research investigators are the Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
There are also many online research investigator courses to help get the education required to be a research investigator.
What education do you need to become a research investigator?
What degree do you need to be a research investigator?
- Bachelor's, 54%
- Doctorate, 19%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a research investigator?
- Chemistry, 25%
- Biology, 17%
- Psychology, 7%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for research investigators
| Research investigator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 7.79% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.79% |
| University of Delaware | 7.79% |
| Northeastern University | 6.49% |
| Purdue University | 6.49% |
Best majors for research investigators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry | 24.6% |
| 2 | Biology | 17.5% |
| 3 | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | 12.5% |
| 4 | Psychology | 6.9% |
| 5 | Business | 5.8% |
Best colleges for research investigators
The best colleges for research investigators are Duke University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Harvard University.
A research investigator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for research investigators. 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 research investigators.
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
8. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
20 best online courses for research investigators
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This MOOC is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. It places the student experience at the centre of our endeavours by engaging learners in a range of robust and challenging discussions and exercises befitting SOAS, University of London's status as a research-intensive university and its rich research heritage. The course will appeal to those of you who require an...
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If you’ve ever skipped over the results section of a medical paper because terms like “confidence interval” or “p-value” go over your head, then you’re in the right place. You may be a clinical practitioner reading research articles to keep up-to-date with developments in your field or a medical student wondering how to approach your own research. Greater confidence in understanding statistical analysis and the results can benefit both working professionals and those undertaking research...
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14. Pharmaceutical Industry Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)
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15. The Simplest Guide to Clinical Trials Data Analysis with SAS
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16. Qualitative Data Analysis using MAXQDA: Scratch to Advanced
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17. Clinical Research for beginners
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18. Certificate Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)
Pharma course (NDA, ANDA, CTD, DMF, USFDA, Regulatory strategy, GMP, Clinical Research, Orange Book, Pharmaceuticals)...
19. Research Methods For Business Students
A-Z guide to writing a rockstar Research Paper with a bulletproof Research Methodology!...
20. R Programming: Advanced Analytics In R For Data Science
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Top 10 most affordable universities for research investigators
The most affordable schools for research investigators are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for research investigators 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 research investigators.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for research investigators
The hardest universities for research investigators to get into are Duke University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for research investigators 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 research investigators 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. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
7. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for research investigators
The easiest schools for research investigators to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a research investigator 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 research investigators.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
7. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
8. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
9. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
10. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
Average research investigator salary by education level
| Research investigator education level | Research investigator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $76,786 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,119 |
| Doctorate Degree | $81,087 |
Research investigator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025