Neurobiology and Neurosciences: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 26.15. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 635 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 12 | 117 | $36,706 | Data unavailable | $15,478 2 programs |
| Associate's degree | 3 | 4 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 326 | 11,287 | $37,389 | $62,451 | $20,375 137 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 131 | 472 | $53,782 | $73,229 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 134 | 863 | $70,100 | $96,176 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 2 | 1 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 23 | 75 | $47,844 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · 25 graduates measured | $37,125 | Data unavailable | $13,250 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College NH · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $60,266 | $143,067 | Data unavailable |
| Union College NY · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $54,368 | $68,666 | $25,000 |
| Santa Clara University CA · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $52,670 | Data unavailable | $22,000 |
| Fordham University NY · Private, nonprofit · 30 graduates measured | $52,131 | Data unavailable | $21,000 |
| New York University NY · Private, nonprofit · 32 graduates measured | $51,328 | Data unavailable | $20,500 |
| Princeton University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $51,188 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Connecticut College CT · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $50,036 | Data unavailable | $27,000 |
| Middlebury College VT · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $49,918 | $90,917 | $16,742 |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $49,430 | Data unavailable | $19,000 |
| Boston College MA · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $49,156 | Data unavailable | $18,400 |
| Coe College IA · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $48,916 | $58,716 | $27,000 |
| Barnard College NY · Private, nonprofit · 28 graduates measured | $48,701 | $66,787 | $15,000 |
| Northeastern University MA · Private, nonprofit · 109 graduates measured | $47,825 | $74,617 | $22,500 |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs MA · Private, nonprofit · 109 graduates measured | $47,825 | $74,617 | $22,500 |
| Lafayette College PA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $47,815 | Data unavailable | $14,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut CT · Public · 25 graduates measured | $85,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public · 25 graduates measured | $85,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public · 25 graduates measured | $85,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public · 25 graduates measured | $85,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public · 25 graduates measured | $85,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Parker University TX · Private, nonprofit · 58 graduates measured | $73,564 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Tulane University of Louisiana LA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $50,172 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public · 57 graduates measured | $45,716 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Irvine CA · Public · 18 graduates measured | $60,528 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Neurobiology and Neurosciences
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological scientists, all other | $98,920 | +4.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists | $103,410 | +12.6% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological technicians | $57,510 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $84,620 | +7.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (5)
- 26.1501 Neuroscience
- 26.1502 Neuroanatomy
- 26.1503 Neurobiology and Anatomy
- 26.1504 Neurobiology and Behavior
- 26.1599 Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other