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Biological Sciences · Neuroscience Rank #3 of 97

Neuroscienceat University of Colorado Boulder

Graduates earn $35,980/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $659K; scenarios range from $586K to $676K depending on AI disruption.

Boulder, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
42
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,980
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$659K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Colorado Boulder

Your strong performance in Neurobiology and Neurosciences at CU Boulder reflects the program's robust research focus within a leading public university. The Boulder-Denver corridor is a burgeoning hub for biotech and pharmaceutical innovation, providing excellent local pipelines to research institutions and companies. This environment nurtures graduates with strong analytical and lab skills, crucial for entry-level roles that often serve as stepping stones. Many successful alumni leverage this foundation into advanced degrees—MDs, PhDs—which are frequently a prerequisite for higher-earning positions like medical scientists or natural sciences managers. While early careers might involve significant lab work, your long-term prospects are strong if you pursue further specialization. To maximize your potential, actively seek out undergraduate research opportunities and internships; hands-on experience is invaluable in this dynamic field.

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
$586K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple8.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$659K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple10.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$676K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple10.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Colorado Boulder

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Neuroscience at University of Colorado Boulder

What does a 42/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Neuroscience at University of Colorado Boulder?

At 42/100, 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 University of Colorado Boulder?

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 University of Colorado Boulder one of the best schools for Neuroscience?

Among 97 Neuroscience programs, University of Colorado Boulder's #3 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.