Neurobiology and Neurosciences at Baylor University

Baylor's neuroscience program lands graduates in a surprisingly difficult financial position despite the university's strong reputation. That $24,100 first-year salary sits at the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of neuroscience programs produce better immediate outcomes. While the program performs better within Texas (40th percentile), it still trails UT Austin by over $10,000 and even falls below the state median of $27,406.

The dramatic 90% earnings jump to $45,846 by year four suggests many graduates are completing medical school prerequisites or research positions before moving into graduate programs or professional roles. This trajectory is common for pre-med students, but it means four years of below-market earnings while carrying $27,000 in debt. That first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.12 reflects genuine financial strain during those early years, even though debt levels remain relatively manageable at the 5th percentile nationally.

If your child is committed to medical school or a PhD program, those early lean years may be acceptable—they're temporary stops en route to higher-earning careers. But if they're uncertain about graduate school or hoping to work immediately after graduation, this program presents a challenging four-year financial runway. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these patterns are reasonably stable, not outliers.