Neuroscienceat Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduates earn $48,125/yr in their first year — about 48.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $521K; scenarios range from $484K to $524K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at MIT
Attending a program with MIT's caliber in Cambridge positions you uniquely within a global epicenter of biotech and pharmaceutical innovation. Your education here opens doors to top-tier research institutions like Broad Institute, pharma giants, and cutting-edge startups throughout the Boston area. Graduates typically enter demanding research roles, often progressing to management or pursuing advanced degrees like PhDs or MDs, which is critical for accessing the highest-earning scientist and medical scientist positions.
The high AI risk for neurobiology reflects the field's increasing reliance on computational neuroscience and data analysis, areas where AI is rapidly advancing. To thrive, you'll want to cultivate strong interdisciplinary skills, perhaps focusing on areas like neuroengineering or advanced data analytics, to ensure your expertise remains at the forefront of innovation.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to MIT's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Neuroscience
How MIT stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at MIT
Other highest-scoring programs offered at MIT, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Neuroscience at MIT
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Neuroscience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
A score of 35/100 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 $484,437 in decade earnings vs $523,897 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Neuroscience program stand out?
Ranked #22 of 97 programs nationally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology a hidden gem for Neuroscience?
After financial aid, the average student pays $79,252 over four years — 67% below the $240,624 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.