Neurobiology and Neurosciences at George Mason University

George Mason's neurobiology program starts slower than most—first-year earnings of $27,859 land in just the 30th percentile nationally and 40th within Virginia, trailing both William & Mary and Virginia Tech. That's about $4,000 below what typical neurobiology graduates earn initially. However, the trajectory tells a different story: by year four, median earnings nearly double to $54,487, a 96% increase that significantly outpaces what's typical for this field.

The debt load of $23,750 sits right at the national and state medians for neurobiology programs, which means the real question is whether those eventual earnings justify the early lean years. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 based on first-year income looks manageable but not impressive. Many neurobiology graduates pursue medical school or research positions that don't pay well initially, which likely explains the pattern here—but if your student isn't planning graduate school, that first year could be financially tight.

The strong earnings growth suggests graduates who stick with science-related careers (rather than pivoting to entirely different fields) eventually reach competitive salaries. For families comfortable supporting their graduate through a slower start—or if graduate school is part of the plan—this program delivers reasonable value at typical neuroscience debt levels. Just don't expect immediate payoff at graduation.