Neuroscienceat University of Southern California
Graduates earn $38,063/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Neuroscience average. Base-case 10-year earnings $725K; scenarios range from $634K to $748K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Southern California
Your USC Neurobiology and Neurosciences degree positions you exceptionally well, leveraging the university's elite research facilities and strong academic reputation. Located in Los Angeles, you'll have direct access to a dynamic ecosystem of major medical centers like Cedars-Sinai and City of Hope, a burgeoning biotech sector, and numerous pharmaceutical research labs. This vibrant environment creates robust recruitment pipelines for graduates, often into roles demanding deep scientific inquiry and analytical prowess. While initial post-grad roles might involve foundational lab work, the program's rigor prepares you for the advanced problem-solving required to excel in scientific research, clinical development, or academic leadership. Your unique human insights into complex biological systems remain crucial, even as AI tools advance. To maximize your trajectory, actively pursue research opportunities and internships; they are invaluable for securing top-tier positions or gaining admission to competitive graduate programs.
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 University of Southern California'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 University of Southern California stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Southern California
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Southern California, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Neuroscience at University of Southern California
How does University of Southern California's Neuroscience program score?
This program scores 33/100 — 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.
How affordable is Neuroscience at University of Southern California after financial aid?
Sticker price is $272,948, but the average net cost is $127,708 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.