Most Affordable Online Master’s in Clinical Research Degrees

Every medical advancement — including vaccines, cancer treatments, and heart disease treatments — can be credited to clinical research. Clinical researchers investigate and develop treatments, therapies, and devices that can improve patient outcomes on a massive scale.

If contributing to scientific knowledge and saving lives sounds like the career path for you, an online master’s in clinical research degree can get you there. Here’s what you need to do next:

With an average cost of $59,440 at public schools, grad school is pricey. But the affordable clinical research degrees we list above average $35,055 — much lower. And that’s before financial aid kicks in.

There are several strategies to help make your master’s degree in clinical research more affordable.

There are different types of loans available to graduate students, including federal and private student loans. Remember — you’ll have to pay these back, and student loan debt can impact the return on your degree investment.

So be sure to consider interest rates, the total cost of the loan, and the repayment options available.

Grants, scholarships, and fellowships are all forms of financial assistance that you won’t have to pay back — so prioritize these first.

Grants are typically based on need. Fellowships and scholarships tend to be based on merit. Here are a few of the many organizations that offer grants, scholarships, and fellowships specifically for graduate students doing clinical research:

If you are devoted to helping others, deeply analytical and detail-oriented, and fascinated by medical science — then yes, earning a master’s in clinical research will probably be worth it for you.

A career in clinical research is a smart choice right now. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the jobs for medical scientists are projected to grow by 10% in the next decade — a much faster rate of growth than average across all occupations. So on top of a satisfying career, you can reasonably expect some pretty serious job security.

You can also look forward to good options for career advancement: Clinical research jobs span from entry-level to senior positions. With the right training and years of experience, your earning potential can increase. Clinical trial managers, research scientists, and directors all make over six figures.

The salaries for folks with a master’s degree in clinical research can vary widely, depending on location, role, experience, and employer. But here are some positions you can qualify for with this degree:

Typically, you’ll be able to complete an online master’s degree in clinical research with two years of full-time study. Programs that require a capstone project or thesis may require more time.

Online programs offer you the flexibility to complete your coursework on your own schedule so you can take all the time you need to fit school around an existing career, your family, or other responsibilities and priorities.

These three things can make your graduate degree more affordable:

So many things! A master’s in clinical research prepares you for a variety of roles across the medical research landscape, both in the private and public sectors.

You can work in hospitals, research organizations, academic institutions, or pharmaceutical companies. You will design, develop, and oversee clinical research studies: enrolling study participants and trial patients, maintaining ethical and legal compliance standards, and writing and publishing reports on your findings.

There are several interesting, well-paying, in-demand jobs you can get with a master’s in clinical research, including: