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Neurobiology and Neurosciences at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,011/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (37,400 openings/yr)

ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 of 97 Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Neurobiology and Neurosciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$469K	$471K	$448K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.6x	12.7x	12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.2x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	48%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	38	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,144

Out-of-state: $111,412 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,000

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Western Washington University's Neurobiology and Neurosciences graduates start at $39,011/yr — above the $32,455 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Neurobiology and Neurosciences's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,011 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #15 of 97 nationally, this is a top-5% Neurobiology and Neurosciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About Western Washington University

A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Neurobiology and Neurosciences at Western Washington University?

A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Neurobiology and Neurosciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Neurobiology and Neurosciences careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $447,553 in decade earnings vs $468,682 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Western Washington University's Neurobiology and Neurosciences program stand out?

Ranked #15 of 97 programs nationally, Western Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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