Rhode Island·Management Occupations·SOC 11-9121

Best Natural Sciences Manager programs in Rhode Island, ranked by enrollment

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these.

10 schools in Rhode Island run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,858 people a year. The job pays a median of $130,480 in Rhode Island across about 200 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledResearch CoordinatorClinical Trial ManagerWater Resources PlannerClinical Program ManagerNatural Sciences ManagerClinical Research CoordinatorEnvironmental Program ManagerChemical Process Exploration Manager
Graduates / yr
1,858
in Rhode Island
Median pay · Rhode Island
$130,480
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
200
people employed
Schools
10
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
70%
across those schools
Median net price
$32,048
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Rhode Island that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
439graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 23.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.03
Applied Mathematics
245graduates / yr
4 schools · 3 specializations · 13.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $60,930
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.08
Physics
116graduates / yr
4 schools · 2 specializations · 6.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $47,156
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
115graduates / yr
3 schools · 2 specializations · 6.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.01
Mathematics
100graduates / yr
6 schools · 1 specialization · 5.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,772
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.12
Biotechnology
95graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 5.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $49,023
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
93graduates / yr
2 schools · 3 specializations · 5.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.06
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
74graduates / yr
1 schools · 5 specializations · 4.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,678
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.05
Chemistry
73graduates / yr
6 schools · 4 specializations · 4.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $42,620
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
66graduates / yr
5 schools · 2 specializations · 3.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.27
Human Biology
60graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 3.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,690
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
56graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 3.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.70
Data Science
56graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 3.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
54graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 2.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.15
Science
54graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 2.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,736
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.01
Biological and Physical Sciences
41graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 2.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,446
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.14
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
40graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 2.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $223,926
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
19graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.30
Computational Science
15graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $50,745
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.05
Statistics
11graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,718
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.08
Mathematics and Computer Science
9graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $89,651
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.25
Cognitive Science
9graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $41,362
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.09
Physiology
7graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,146
Engineering
CIP 14.12
Engineering Physics
6graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,457
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.32
Marine Sciences
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $27,337

40 programs in Rhode Island that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Rhode Island (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 Rhode Island page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1439
23.6%
8$32,152$25,000
2222
11.9%
4$60,930$21,143
3111
6.0%
4$47,156$23,490
4105
5.7%
3$31,687$22,936
5100
5.4%
6$48,772$21,544
6
Biotechnologymain feeder
95
5.1%
3$49,023$21,309
788
4.7%
2$29,460$23,480
865
3.5%
6$42,620$23,900
960
3.2%
1$31,690$17,312
1056
3.0%
5$38,243$23,014
1156
3.0%
4
1254
2.9%
1$44,736$18,593
1354
2.9%
2$35,393$19,961
1441
2.2%
2$28,446$11,000
1540
2.2%
1$223,926$16,250
1633
1.8%
1$72,338$18,500
1728
1.5%
1$39,678$24,864
1826
1.4%
1$39,678$24,864
1923
1.2%
1$72,338$18,500
2019
1.0%
1$37,223$20,968
2116
0.9%
1$39,678$24,864
2215
0.8%
1$50,745$27,000
2313
0.7%
1$60,930$21,143
2411
0.6%
2$59,718$20,150
2510
0.5%
1$38,243$23,014
2610
0.5%
1$31,687$22,936
2710
0.5%
1$60,930$21,143
289
0.5%
1$89,651$23,175
299
0.5%
1$41,362$17,750
307
0.4%
1$31,146$23,384
316
0.3%
2$57,457$24,706
325
0.3%
1$27,337$22,400
335
0.3%
1$47,156$23,490
344
0.2%
1$29,460$23,480
354
0.2%
1$42,620$23,900
363
0.2%
2$42,620$23,900
373
0.2%
1$39,678$24,864
381
0.1%
1$29,460$23,480
391
0.1%
1$42,620$23,900
401
0.1%
1$39,678$24,864

Top 10 schools in Rhode Island

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 7 of the 10 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Brown University
Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · 26 feeder programs
1,003Applied Mathematics, General$99,19396%$14,6445%
2University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI Public · 18 feeder programs
484Biology/Biological Sciences, General$45,84673%72%
3Providence College
Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
120Biology/Biological Sciences, General$39,61686%$32,04851%
4Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs
84Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography$29,07469%$34,64888%
5Salve Regina University
Newport, RI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
48Biology/Biological Sciences, General$40,52577%$31,89968%
6Rhode Island College
Providence, RI Public · 8 feeder programs
42Biology/Biological Sciences, General$39,91048%92%
7Bryant University
Smithfield, RI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
35Biology/Biological Sciences, General80%$38,48565%
8Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
19Sustainability Studies89%$41,76419%
9Community College of Rhode Island
Warwick, RI Public · 4 feeder programs
12Biological and Physical Sciences26%
10Johnson & Wales University - Providence
Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
11Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,40555%$31,63488%

All 10 schools in Rhode Island

Every school in Rhode Island 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.

All schools in Rhode Island that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Brown UniversityProvidencePrivate not-for-profit1,00326
University of Rhode IslandKingstonPublic48418
Providence CollegeProvidencePrivate not-for-profit1206
Roger Williams UniversityBristolPrivate not-for-profit848
Salve Regina UniversityNewportPrivate not-for-profit484
Rhode Island CollegeProvidencePublic428
Bryant UniversitySmithfieldPrivate not-for-profit354
Rhode Island School of DesignProvidencePrivate not-for-profit191
Community College of Rhode IslandWarwickPublic124
Johnson & Wales University - ProvidenceProvidencePrivate not-for-profit111

What natural sciences managers earn in Rhode Island

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Rhode Island
$130,480
Mean annual
$141,270
Jobs in state
200
What the range looks like
10th pct$64,210Median$130,48090th pct$268,500
Versus the national median
-22.0%

U.S. median $167,220. Rhode Island pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.58×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Rhode Island

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
$144,920median
280 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+3.7%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
8,500
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
3,900
104,300 → 108,200
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

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

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island.

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 439 degrees in Rhode Island in 2024-25, 23.6% 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 40 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, plus 21 more. Together they graduate about 1,858 people a year in Rhode Island.

How much do natural sciences managers earn in Rhode Island?+

The median is $130,480 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 22.0% 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 Rhode Island?+

10 institutions in Rhode Island reported graduates from at least one of the 40 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 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected 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 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, 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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