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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #29 of 97

Neuroscienceat Macalester College

Graduates earn $45,450/yr in their first year — about 40.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $506K; scenarios range from $474K to $508K depending on AI disruption.

Saint Paul, MN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
34 AT RISK
35
Optimistic
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,450
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$506K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Macalester College

Macalester’s neurobiology program stands out significantly, reflecting a potent combination of its rigorous liberal arts foundation and strategic location. Your education here emphasizes not just scientific depth, but also critical thinking, communication, and interdisciplinary problem-solving—skills highly prized in the Twin Cities’ dynamic healthcare and biotech sector. This region is a hub for medical device companies, research institutions, and major healthcare systems, creating robust pipelines for graduates into roles as diverse as medical research, clinical trials management, or even consulting within the life sciences. To truly leverage this advantage, actively seek out research opportunities and internships within the local industry throughout your degree.

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
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$506K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$508K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Macalester 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 Macalester 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
Union College
NY · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Trinity College
CT · Private nonprofit
34
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
0.7x
ROI
Also at Macalester College

Other top programs at Macalester College

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at Macalester College

What does a 34/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Neuroscience at Macalester College?

At 34/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Neuroscience programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Neuroscience at Macalester College?

The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Neuroscience at Macalester College?

The 54% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $259,632. At a net cost of $119,920, the earnings multiple improves substantially.