Best institutions to study Clinical and Industrial Drug Development
A program that focuses on the scientific application of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and industrial management to the development, production, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical products.
13 U.S. institutions graduated 250 Clinical and Industrial Drug Development students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2006, a specialization of Pharmacy (CIP 51.20), and leads most directly to the Industrial Production Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-3051).
About Clinical and Industrial Drug Development programs
A program that focuses on the scientific application of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and industrial management to the development, production, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Includes instruction in industrial microbiology, plasmids, expression vectors, protein chemistry, assay and evaluation, drug synthesis and purification, quality control, industrial management, production security, patent procedures, intellectual property regulations and issues, patent enforcement and defense, and research design and testing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Clinical and Industrial Drug Development program, part of the Pharmacy field, focuses on the scientific application of pharmacology and industrial management in the pharmaceutical industry. This program is designed for students interested in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical products, preparing them for a dynamic career in health professions.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in industrial microbiology, drug synthesis and purification, quality control, and patent procedures. Core skills developed include critical thinking, monitoring, and effective communication, equipping graduates with the tools necessary for success in the pharmaceutical sector.
Credentials awarded
What Clinical and Industrial Drug Development graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree160 graduates / yr · 8 institutions64%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate46 graduates / yr · 3 institutions18%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year32 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
- Bachelor's degree9 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Clinical and Industrial Drug Development completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 183 |
| 2013 | 156 |
| 2014 | 165 |
| 2015 | 196 |
| 2016 | 187 |
| 2017 | 180 |
| 2018 | 190 |
| 2019 | 169 |
| 2020 | 223 |
| 2021 | 206 |
| 2022 | 215 |
| 2023 | 223 |
| 2024 | 244 |
| 2025 | 250 |
Top 13 institutions for Clinical and Industrial Drug Development, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicMaster's | 61 | 75% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 35 | 75% | — | — |
| 3 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster's | 30 | 86% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 5 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 24 | 61% | $23,331 | $54,919 |
| 6 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 38% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 19 | 85% | — | — |
| 8 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 40% | — | — |
| 9 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 9 | 87% | $34,827 | — |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicMaster's | 7 | 46% | — | — |
| 11 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 79% | $34,418 | $57,889 |
| 12 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 90% | — | — |
| 13 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 62% | $35,358 | $47,882 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pharmacy field (CIP 51.20) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 11 states
Where Clinical and Industrial Drug Development graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacy programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 64 | Temple University61 / yr |
| California | 2 | 56 | University of California - San Diego30 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 35 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus35 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 24 | Campbell University24 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 21 | Brightpoint Community College21 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 19 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus19 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 11 | Ivy Tech Community College11 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 9 | Stevens Institute of Technology9 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 7 | Eastern Michigan University7 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | University of Georgia2 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3051, Industrial Production Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Clinical and Industrial Drug Development program can pursue careers as Industrial Production Managers, Health Specialties Teachers, and Natural Sciences Managers. The job outlook shows little to no change, with an annual opening of 17,100 positions and a median wage of $121,440, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2006
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial Production Managersprimary SOC 11-3051 | $126,060 | +1.9% Little or no change | ~17,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Clinical and Industrial Drug Development programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
- Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
- Review processing schedules or production orders to make decisions concerning inventory requirements, staffing requirements, work procedures, or duty assignments, considering budgetary limitations and time constraints.
- Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production or processing problems.
- Hire, train, evaluate, or discharge staff or resolve personnel grievances.
- Develop or implement production tracking or quality control systems, analyzing production, quality control, maintenance, or other operational reports to detect production problems.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacy specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacy (CIP 51.20).
- PharmacyCIP 51.200111,406 graduates / yr144 institutions
- Pharmaceutical SciencesCIP 51.20102,563 graduates / yr79 institutions
- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic SciencesCIP 51.2009909 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationCIP 51.2099909 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Pharmaceutics and Drug DesignCIP 51.2003544 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Medicinal and Pharmaceutical ChemistryCIP 51.2004188 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory AffairsCIP 51.2002179 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Pharmacoeconomics/CIP 51.2007
Pharmaceutical Economics 150 graduates / yr16 institutions - Natural Products Chemistry and PharmacognosyCIP 51.2005partial data130 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pharmaceutical Marketing and ManagementCIP 51.2011partial data122 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care PharmacyCIP 51.2008partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 13 colleges offering the Clinical and Industrial Drug Development program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, monitoring, active listening, and mathematics.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 17,100 annual openings in related fields.
What is the CIP code for Clinical and Industrial Drug Development?+
Clinical and Industrial Drug Development is CIP 51.2006 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacy (CIP 51.20). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific application of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and industrial management to the development, production, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Includes instruction in industrial microbiology, plasmids, expression vectors, protein chemistry, assay and evaluation, drug synthesis and purification, quality control, industrial management, production security, patent procedures, intellectual property regulations and issues, patent enforcement and defense, and research design and testing.
How many institutions offer Clinical and Industrial Drug Development programs?+
13 U.S. institutions reported Clinical and Industrial Drug Development graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 250 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Pharmacy graduates.
How much do Clinical and Industrial Drug Development graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Industrial Production Managers occupation, which Clinical and Industrial Drug Development most directly leads to, pays a median of $126,060 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacy field report median earnings of $54,919 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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