Neurobiology and Neurosciences at University of St Thomas

University of St. Thomas graduates in neuroscience earn slightly above the Minnesota median of $36,059, though they trail Macalester's top-performing program by nearly $10,000 annually. More importantly, these graduates carry just $27,000 in debt—remarkably low for a private institution and well below both state and national medians. That 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than what they'll earn in their first year, a favorable starting position for anyone planning graduate school in medicine or research.

The trade-off here is clear: St. Thomas provides solid preparation without the debt burden that often comes with private education, but it doesn't deliver the earnings premium of more selective programs. For neuroscience specifically—where most students continue to graduate or professional school—the lower debt load matters more than first-year earnings. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means one or two outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly.

If your child is headed toward medical school or a PhD program, graduating with $27,000 rather than $35,000-40,000 in undergraduate debt creates meaningful breathing room. If they're planning to work immediately after graduation, understand they'll start at middle-of-the-pack Minnesota earnings, not at the top tier.