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Neuroscience at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Neurobiology and Neurosciences

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,501/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (37,400 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 97 Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs Top 5%

Program Analysis

Graduates from UCLA's rigorous Neurobiology program often embark on paths requiring significant further education, such as medical school or PhD programs. This initial investment in advanced degrees means that early career earnings, while substantial, might reflect the stipends of academic research or entry-level lab positions rather than immediate industry salaries. The program's strength lies in preparing you for complex research roles at institutions like Cedars-Sinai or within Southern California's burgeoning biotech sector. Many high-earning roles in this field, like medical scientist or research manager, typically materialize after years of specialized experience or advanced degrees. Your time at UCLA provides an excellent foundation, but you'll need to strategically plan for the next steps, whether that’s graduate school or gaining targeted experience, to unlock your full earning potential.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Neuroscience graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$828K	$798K	$688K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.1x	14.5x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.5x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	48%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	42	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,674

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,689

161% growth from Year 1

About University of California-Los Angeles

With just 9% of applicants admitted, University of California-Los Angeles ranks among the nation's most selective schools, one of the larger campuses at 33,040 students in Los Angeles, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Los Angeles →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr

Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Neuroscience at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Los Angeles's Neuroscience program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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.

Why does University of California-Los Angeles rank so high for Neuroscience?

The #2 ranking out of 97 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →