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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #42 of 97

Neuroscienceat Boston University

Graduates earn $39,093/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $678K; scenarios range from $600K to $696K depending on AI disruption.

Boston, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,093
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$678K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Boston University

Boston University's strong academic standing, combined with its location in Boston—a global hub for biomedical research and biotech—significantly shapes your career trajectory in neurobiology. This vibrant ecosystem, teeming with leading hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions, creates a robust demand for graduates with a rigorous scientific foundation. Your BU education emphasizes intensive research and analytical skills, preparing you for the intricate work in clinical trials, R&D labs, and academic research. While some roles face evolving AI integration, your adaptability and specialized expertise will be highly valued. To truly stand out, actively seek out research assistantships and internships within the local biotech sector; these experiences are invaluable for building a competitive profile and securing advanced roles or prestigious graduate school placements in this dynamic field.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$600K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$678K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$696K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Neuroscience graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
4
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
5
Biological technicians
+3.5% 10-yr growth · 9,100 openings/yr
$52,000/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Neuroscience

How Boston University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
35
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Fordham University
NY · Private nonprofit
35
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Top score
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Macalester College
MN · Private nonprofit
34
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
0.8x
ROI
Union College
NY · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Also at Boston University

Other top programs at Boston University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at Boston University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Neuroscience at Boston University?

A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Neuroscience. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Neuroscience careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $599,744 in decade earnings vs $696,500 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Boston University a hidden gem for Neuroscience?

After financial aid, the average student pays $107,984 over four years — 59% below the $260,672 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.