Location: Memphis, TN•In-State Tuition: $54,892•Admission Rate: 50%•Avg SAT: 1385
Median Earnings (1yr)
$35,556
66th percentile
80th percentile in Tennessee
Median Debt
$19,500
15% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.55 ManageableSample: 19 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Rhodes College neuroscience graduates earn $35,556 in their first year—ranking in the 80th percentile among Tennessee programs and outperforming both Vanderbilt and UT-Knoxville in this field. That's nearly $10,000 more than the typical Tennessee neuroscience grad, a significant advantage for students planning to stay in the region. The $19,500 median debt sits right around state norms and translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55.

The caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift considerably year-to-year. Neuroscience is also a field where many students pursue graduate or professional programs, so first-year earnings don't tell the full story if your child is headed to medical school or a PhD program. That said, for students who do enter the workforce directly—whether temporarily or permanently—Rhodes appears to position them well.

For families weighing in-state options, Rhodes delivers stronger immediate earning potential than Tennessee's flagship programs in this major. The combination of solid outcomes and moderate debt makes this a reasonable investment, though the small cohort means you're betting on a limited data set.

Where Rhodes College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all neurobiology and neurosciences bachelors's programs nationally

Rhodes CollegeOther neurobiology and neurosciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Rhodes College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Rhodes College earns $36k — 66th percentile among neurobiology and neurosciences bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Neurobiology and Neurosciences bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Rhodes CollegeMemphis$54,892$35,556—$19,5000.55
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$63,946$25,830$78,554$15,7960.61
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville$13,484$21,138—$18,5000.88
National Median—$31,687—$22,9360.72

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with neurobiology and neurosciences graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

Bioinformatics Scientists

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Geneticists

Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Rhodes College, approximately 15% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.