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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #41 of 97

Neuroscienceat Bowdoin College

Graduates earn $43,373/yr in their first year — about 34.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $495K; scenarios range from $465K to $495K depending on AI disruption.

Brunswick, ME Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,373
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$495K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bowdoin College

Bowdoin's neurobiology program, situated within a highly selective liberal arts environment, cultivates a unique blend of scientific rigor and critical thinking. This foundation prepares you not just for understanding complex systems, but for leading in them. Many graduates leverage this robust preparation to pursue advanced degrees, whether in medicine or specialized research, often delaying direct entry into the workforce.

You'll find alumni excelling in top-tier academic labs, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies nationally, often in management or principal investigator roles that demand sophisticated analytical and leadership skills. While foundational lab tasks are evolving with AI, your Bowdoin education emphasizes the higher-order reasoning, experimental design, and interpretive abilities that remain indispensable. To maximize your potential, focus heavily on undergraduate research opportunities and cultivate a strong network; these will be crucial for competitive graduate school admissions and specialized career paths.

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
$465K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$495K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$495K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple1.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bowdoin College'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 Bowdoin College 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 Bowdoin College

Other top programs at Bowdoin College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bowdoin College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at Bowdoin College

How does Bowdoin College's Neuroscience program score?

This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Neuroscience. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Neuroscience to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Neuroscience careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

How affordable is Neuroscience at Bowdoin College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $259,640, but the average net cost is $83,144 — a 68% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.