Best Natural Sciences Manager programs in Arkansas, ranked by enrollment
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these.
26 schools in Arkansas run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,554 people a year. The job pays a median of $119,430 in Arkansas across about 340 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Arkansas that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
32 programs in Arkansas that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Arkansas (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Arkansas page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101In Arkansas → | 746 | 48.0% | 20 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 27.0101In Arkansas → | 259 | 16.7% | 16 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 3 | CIP 40.0501In Arkansas → | 149 | 9.6% | 14 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 4 | CIP 40.0601In Arkansas → | 51 | 3.3% | 3 | $39,678 | $24,864 |
| 5 | CIP 40.0801In Arkansas → | 50 | 3.2% | 8 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 6 | CIP 30.3001In Arkansas → | 44 | 2.8% | 2 | $50,745 | $27,000 |
| 7 | CIP 26.9999In Arkansas → | 36 | 2.3% | 2 | $31,278 | $23,000 |
| 8 | CIP 27.0501In Arkansas → | 28 | 1.8% | 2 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 9 | CIP 26.0210In Arkansas → | 27 | 1.7% | 2 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 10 | CIP 26.0406In Arkansas → | 23 | 1.5% | 2 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 11 | Physical Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 40.0101In Arkansas → | 19 | 1.2% | 1 | $27,007 | $9,000 |
| 12 | Biological and Physical Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.0101In Arkansas → | 18 | 1.2% | 2 | $28,446 | $11,000 |
| 13 | Natural Sciencesmain feeder CIP 30.1801In Arkansas → | 12 | 0.8% | 3 | $29,587 | $21,610 |
| 14 | CIP 40.0899In Arkansas → | 12 | 0.8% | 2 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 15 | CIP 30.4401In Arkansas → | 11 | 0.7% | 1 | — | — |
| 16 | CIP 30.7001In Arkansas → | 10 | 0.6% | 3 | — | — |
| 17 | CIP 27.0599In Arkansas → | 9 | 0.6% | 2 | $59,718 | $20,150 |
| 18 | CIP 26.0202In Arkansas → | 8 | 0.5% | 2 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 19 | CIP 27.0301In Arkansas → | 6 | 0.4% | 3 | $60,930 | $21,143 |
| 20 | CIP 14.1201In Arkansas → | 5 | 0.3% | 2 | $57,457 | $24,706 |
| 21 | CIP 30.1901In Arkansas → | 5 | 0.3% | 3 | $30,508 | $24,586 |
| 22 | CIP 30.3301In Arkansas → | 5 | 0.3% | 1 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 23 | CIP 26.0702In Arkansas → | 4 | 0.3% | 1 | $28,266 | $24,393 |
| 24 | CIP 30.2701In Arkansas → | 4 | 0.3% | 1 | $31,690 | $17,312 |
| 25 | CIP 51.1401In Arkansas → | 4 | 0.3% | 1 | $223,926 | $16,250 |
| 26 | CIP 26.0305In Arkansas → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $33,009 | $21,975 |
| 27 | CIP 40.0508In Arkansas → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 28 | CIP 26.0204In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $38,243 | $23,014 |
| 29 | CIP 26.0403In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $35,393 | $19,961 |
| 30 | CIP 30.2501In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $41,362 | $17,750 |
| 31 | CIP 40.0203In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $39,728 | $24,678 |
| 32 | CIP 40.1002In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $72,216 | $24,750 |
Top 25 schools in Arkansas
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 9 of the 26 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · 14 feeder programs | 480 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,061 | 71% | — | 74% |
| 2 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR Public · 6 feeder programs | 202 | Mathematics, General | — | 49% | — | 96% |
| 3 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Public · 9 feeder programs | 149 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,390 | 54% | — | 89% |
| 4 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR Public · 8 feeder programs | 105 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,096 | 42% | — | 59% |
| 5 | University of Arkansas - East Arkansas Community College Forrest City, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 89 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 51% | — | — |
| 6 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR Public · 8 feeder programs | 81 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $25,730 | 55% | — | 82% |
| 7 | University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR Public · 4 feeder programs | 57 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,541 | 38% | — | 80% |
| 8 | Hendrix College Conway, AR Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 48 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $28,322 | 72% | $22,415 | 56% |
| 9 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR Public · 4 feeder programs | 48 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,044 | 49% | — | 75% |
| 10 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 45 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 61% | $21,322 | 68% |
| 11 | Harding University Searcy, AR Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 41 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 69% | $19,423 | 71% |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR Public · 3 feeder programs | 38 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $26,612 | 40% | — | 41% |
| 13 | University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 30 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $27,992 | 51% | $13,608 | 60% |
| 14 | Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Fort Smith, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 28 | Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR Public · 5 feeder programs | 27 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 72% | $20,325 | 76% |
| 17 | Lyon College Batesville, AR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 13 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 47% | $22,199 | 63% |
| 18 | Philander Smith University Little Rock, AR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 13 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 30% | $16,387 | — |
| 19 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR Public · 3 feeder programs | 10 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 49% | — | — |
| 20 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR Public · 4 feeder programs | 8 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 37% | — | — |
| 21 | Williams Baptist University Walnut Ridge, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 26% | $16,443 | 83% |
| 22 | National Park College Hot Springs, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Natural Sciences | — | 35% | — | — |
| 23 | Central Baptist College Conway, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 34% | $16,728 | 63% |
| 24 | Arkansas State University - Newport Newport, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Natural Sciences | — | 46% | — | — |
| 25 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Nutrition Sciences | — | 55% | — | — |
All 26 schools in Arkansas
Every school in Arkansas with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville | Public | 480 | 14 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | Public | 202 | 6 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | Public | 149 | 9 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock | Public | 105 | 8 |
| University of Arkansas - East Arkansas Community College | Forrest City | Public | 89 | 1 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Public | 81 | 8 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Public | 57 | 4 |
| Hendrix College | Conway | Private not-for-profit | 48 | 6 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia | Public | 48 | 4 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 45 | 6 |
| Harding University | Searcy | Private not-for-profit | 41 | 8 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff | Public | 38 | 3 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville | Private not-for-profit | 30 | 3 |
| Arkansas Colleges of Health Education | Fort Smith | Private not-for-profit | 28 | 1 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Public | 27 | 5 |
What natural sciences managers earn in Arkansas
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $167,220. Arkansas pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Arkansas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Natural Sciences Managers page.
How to become a Natural Sciences Manager
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience needed
- 5 years or more
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Arkansas
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Natural Sciences Managers24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 14.1201Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
- 14.3701Operations Research
- 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0202Biochemistry
- 26.0203Biophysics
- 26.0204Molecular Biology
- 26.0205Molecular Biochemistry
- 26.0206Molecular Biophysics
- 26.0207Structural Biology
- 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
- 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
- 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
- 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
- 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
- 26.0307Plant Physiology
- 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
- 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- 26.0403Anatomy
- 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
- 26.0502Microbiology, General
- 26.0503Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- 26.0504Virology
- 26.0505Parasitology
Common questions
Answers for people weighing natural sciences managers programs in Arkansas.
What degree do you need to become a Natural Sciences Manager?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 746 degrees in Arkansas in 2024-25, 48.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Natural Sciences Manager?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 32 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, plus 22 more. Together they graduate about 1,554 people a year in Arkansas.
How much do natural sciences managers earn in Arkansas?+
The median is $119,430 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 28.6% below the U.S. median of $167,220. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for natural sciences managers growing?+
BLS projects a +3.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 8,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Arkansas?+
26 institutions in Arkansas reported graduates from at least one of the 32 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do natural sciences managers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Research Coordinator, Clinical Trial Manager, Water Resources Planner, Clinical Program Manager, Natural Sciences Manager, Clinical Research Coordinator among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-9121.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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