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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #52 of 97

Neuroscienceat Duke University

Graduates earn $37,208/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $691K; scenarios range from $609K to $711K depending on AI disruption.

Durham, NC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
30 AT RISK
31
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,208
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$691K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Duke University

Your Duke neurobiology degree benefits significantly from the university's top-tier research infrastructure and its proximity to the vast biotech and pharmaceutical ecosystem of the Research Triangle Park. This environment creates robust pipelines for internships and early-career positions in both academic research and industry, often in roles focused on discovery and development. The rigorous curriculum, coupled with opportunities at Duke Health, prepares you for advanced study or specialized scientific roles demanding analytical depth and leadership potential. While some aspects of scientific work face increasing automation, the program's emphasis on complex problem-solving and critical inquiry positions you well for roles at the forefront of innovation. To truly excel, actively seek out interdisciplinary projects that build a unique skill set beyond core lab work.

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
$609K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$691K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$711K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Duke 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 Duke 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 Duke University

Other top programs at Duke University

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at Duke University

How does Duke University's Neuroscience program score?

This program scores 30/100 — 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.