by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Neurobiology & Behavior covers Neurobiology And Behavior. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Structure And Function Of The Central And Peripheral Nervous System In Vertebrates And Invertebrates As It Relates To Control Of Behavior. Includes Instruction In Neuronal Systems And Circuits, Higher Level Studies Of Behavior And Cognition, Computational Neurobiology, And Behavioral Manifestations Of Central Nervous System Diseases And Disorders. Continue reading for the essential details every neurobiology & behavior major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering neurobiology & behavior programs.
Across the country, neurobiology & behavior is a widely-pursued major, with 183 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Neurobiology & Behavior Schools ranking analyzes these 8 schools to determine the best overall colleges for neurobiology & behavior students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of neurobiology & behavior programs later in this article.
Coursework for Neurobiology & Behavior develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations neurobiology & behavior graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a neurobiology & behavior program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a neurobiology & behavior major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several neurobiology & behavior degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 155 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 17 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11 |
People currently working in careers related to neurobiology & behavior tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.3% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in neurobiology & behavior careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in neurobiology & behavior can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to neurobiology & behavior.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to neurobiology & behavior.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of neurobiology & behavior graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,154 |
| 4 years | $54,347 |
| 5 years | $68,598 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for neurobiology & behavior graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers neurobiology & behavior grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 8 different neurobiology & behavior programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased neurobiology & behavior school rankings to help you.
Those considering neurobiology & behavior, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Neuroscience | 11,557 |
| Neurobiology and Anatomy | 780 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other | 299 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
