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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #87 of 97

Neuroscienceat The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Graduates earn $21,138/yr in their first year — about 35.0% below the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $372K; scenarios range from $375K to $360K depending on AI disruption.

Knoxville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
19 AT RISK
20
Optimistic
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$21,138
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$372K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Tennessee

Studying Neurobiology and Neurosciences at UT-Knoxville provides a robust academic foundation, but many students find this undergraduate degree primarily prepares them for further education rather than immediate entry into the top-tier careers listed. The local Knoxville job market isn't a major biotech hub, meaning direct industry roles for bachelor's graduates might be less abundant or lower-paying than in established research clusters. You'll likely see many peers pursuing medical school, PhD programs, or entering research assistant positions before reaching those higher salary brackets. The high AI risk also suggests that foundational lab work might evolve, making advanced specialization crucial. To maximize your career prospects, aggressively pursue research internships throughout your degree and seriously consider a dual major or minor in computational biology or data science to complement your scientific expertise.

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
$375K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score18/100
Earnings Multiple7.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$372K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score19/100
Earnings Multiple6.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$360K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple6.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Tennessee

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at University of Tennessee

What does a 19/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Neuroscience at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

At 19/100, 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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

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.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a good choice for Neuroscience despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.