Neuroscience at University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Neurobiology and Neurosciences
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,063/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,400 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #32 of 97 Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs Top 50%

Program Analysis

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.

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 $748K $725K $634K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 48% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$272,948
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$127,708
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,000
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,242
106% growth from Year 1

About University of Southern California

University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, serving a student body of 20,817 in Los Angeles, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $127,708 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern California →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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