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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #7 of 97

Neuroscienceat George Mason University

Graduates earn $27,859/yr in their first year — about 14.0% below the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $940K; scenarios range from $792K to $984K depending on AI disruption.

Fairfax, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
43
Optimistic
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,859
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$940K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at George Mason University

George Mason's neurobiology program, situated in the bustling Northern Virginia corridor, benefits from its proximity to a wealth of federal research institutions like the National Institutes of Health and major biotech firms. While this offers incredible opportunities for internships and entry-level research roles, a bachelor's degree in this demanding field often serves as a foundational step. Many initial positions, such as lab technician or research assistant, provide invaluable experience but may not immediately command the highest salaries in the competitive DC metro area, especially compared to fields with more direct industry pipelines for bachelor's graduates.

Your career trajectory will heavily depend on further specialization. The most lucrative paths, like becoming a medical scientist or natural sciences manager, typically require advanced degrees (Ph.D. or M.D.). To truly distinguish yourself and maximize your future earning potential, actively pursue hands-on research experience throughout your undergraduate years and strategically plan for graduate studies.

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
$792K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$940K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple17.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$984K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple17.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at George Mason University

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at George Mason University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Neuroscience at George Mason University?

A score of 42/100 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 $791,918 in decade earnings vs $984,173 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.