Updated March 2026 · College Scorecard data
Is Neurobiology and Neurosciences Worth It?
Neurobiology and Neurosciences holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 29 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. Across the field, median debt is $25K against $55K in first-year earnings — a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress.
Neurobiology and Neurosciences ROI at a Glance
holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 29 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The graduation-weighted average across reporting institutions is the cleanest single number for the field, but it hides the spread — top programs like Boston College run far ahead of the bottom of the table. School choice within Neurobiology and Neurosciences matters because the major-level number is a starting point, not a prediction.
Earnings rise sharply from $55K in year 1 to $74K by year 5 — 35% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. The five-year earnings trajectory is one of the strongest signals of long-run career fit; a flat curve suggests the major leads to roles where seniority does not pay off without graduate credentials, while a steep curve indicates fast skill compounding inside the field.
Best in field: Boston College leads the field with a 72/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $19K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.35x. Worst in field: Carlow University sits at the bottom of the field with a 67/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $30K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.55x.
Debt-to-Income at the Field Level
At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45x, Neurobiology and Neurosciences shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Federal financial-aid research uses the “8% rule” — monthly student loan payments under 8% of gross monthly income — which translates to debt below roughly 0.75x annual earnings on a standard 10-year plan. Programs running above 1.0x typically need income-driven repayment to stay current; above 1.5x, the math rarely works without forgiveness mechanics or an unusually steep career ramp. For borrower-rights and repayment guidance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the most accessible federal source.
Debt vs Earnings by School
Neurobiology and Neurosciences by School
| School | State | Median Debt | Year 1 Earnings | Year 5 Earnings | ROI Grade | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | Ma | $19K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bates College | Me | $21K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Brandeis University | Ma | $20K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Claremont McKenna College | Ca | $19K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colgate University | Ny | $21K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Amherst College | Ma | $22K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock | Ma | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Boston University | Ma | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bowdoin College | Me | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Brown University | Ri | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bryn Mawr College | Pa | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Case Western Reserve University | Oh | $24K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colorado College | Co | $23K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Agnes Scott College | Ga | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Allegheny College | Pa | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Baylor University | Tx | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Bethel University | Mn | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Binghamton University | Ny | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| California Institute of Technology | Ca | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Carthage College | Wi | $26K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Christopher Newport University | Va | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Coe College | Ia | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Colby College | Me | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Mn | $25K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Alma College | Mi | $27K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Cedar Crest College | Pa | $28K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Central Michigan University | Mi | $29K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Barnard College | Ny | $30K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
| Carlow University | Pa | $30K | $55K | $74K | B | BUY |
How Neurobiology and Neurosciences’s ROI Score Is Calculated
The Neurobiology and Neurosciences ROI Score is a weighted composite of five financial-aid signals: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium over a high-school diploma (25%), 10-year BLS job-growth outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. the national average (10%). Each school + major combination is scored individually, then aggregated up to the field level. The grade thresholds (A ≥ 80, B ≥ 65, C ≥ 50, D ≥ 35, F < 35) are calibrated so a typical break-even degree lands in the C range. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Neurobiology and Neurosciences degree worth it?
Neurobiology and Neurosciences holds a solid national average ROI Score of 69/100 across 29 reporting schools — Grade B territory, where repayment math works for most graduates at most institutions. The dominant signal is debt-to-income: at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45x on average, the field shows a strong cushion — typical graduates carry less than half a year of starting salary in debt, leaving room to switch jobs or pursue graduate study without distress. Outcomes vary sharply by institution, so the school you choose within Neurobiology and Neurosciences usually matters more than the major label itself.
What is the average debt for a Neurobiology and Neurosciences degree?
Median debt at completion across the 29 U.S. schools reporting Neurobiology and Neurosciences data to the College Scorecard is $25K, against a national all-major average of $26K. The range across schools is wide — $19K at the top of the table to $30K at the bottom.
How much do Neurobiology and Neurosciences graduates earn?
Earnings rise sharply from $55K in year 1 to $74K by year 5 — 35% growth in four years. That is a strong promotion curve, common in technology, engineering, and finance tracks where early-career skill compounding pays off fast. National average first-year earnings across all 30,224 school + major combinations on the site is $58K — for context, Neurobiology and Neurosciences sits below that benchmark.
Which school has the best Neurobiology and Neurosciences program by ROI?
Boston College leads the field with a 72/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $19K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.35x. On the other end, Carlow University sits at the bottom of the field with a 67/100 ROI Score (Grade B). Median debt at completion is $30K against $55K in first-year earnings — a debt-to-income ratio of 0.55x.
Where does this Neurobiology and Neurosciences data come from?
Every figure on this page comes from federal public datasets — the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) for debt and earnings, IPEDS (nces.ed.gov/ipeds) for graduation rates, and BLS Employment Projections for the job-growth outlook component of the ROI Score. Borrower-rights guidance: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov). The dataset was last refreshed March 2026.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. All federal datasets are public domain.
Last updated 2026-03-15 · 29 schools reporting for this major.