by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Behavioral Neuroscience covers Behavioral Neuroscience. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Biological Bases Of Behavior And Psychological Functioning, And Their Application To Experimental And Therapeutic Research Problems. Includes Instruction In Functional Neuroanatomy, Neural System Development, Biochemical Neural Regulatory Mechanisms, Neurological Biophysics, Memory Storage And Retrieval, Physiology Of Cognition And Perception, Physiological Bases Of Psychopathology And Behavioral Disorders, Psychopharmacology, Comparative Psychobiology, Molecular And Cellular Neuroscience, Brain Science, Anatomy And Physiology Of The Central Nervous System, And Specialized Experimental Design And Research Methods. Examples: [Physiological Psychology], [Psychobiology]. Continue reading for the important information every behavioral neuroscience major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering behavioral neuroscience programs.
Across the country, behavioral neuroscience is a popular field of study, with 1,424 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Behavioral Neuroscience Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for behavioral neuroscience students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of behavioral neuroscience programs later in this article.
Coursework for Behavioral Neuroscience develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations behavioral neuroscience graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a behavioral neuroscience program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a behavioral neuroscience major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several behavioral neuroscience 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,347 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 55 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to behavioral neuroscience tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 26.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in behavioral neuroscience careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in behavioral neuroscience prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to behavioral neuroscience.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to behavioral neuroscience.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of behavioral neuroscience graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for behavioral neuroscience graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers behavioral neuroscience grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
With 33 different behavioral neuroscience programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased behavioral neuroscience school rankings to help you.
Those considering behavioral neuroscience, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
