Best Neuroscience Programs in California (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Biological Sciences Colleges in California
This page ranks the 8 Neuroscience programs in California by the median earnings of Neuroscience graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Southern California leads the list with median earnings of $89,203 for its graduates after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figures range from $89,203 to $24,035, with a median of $62,760. For 1 of the 8 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 6 of the 8 programs, or 75%, while 2 are private nonprofit. University of California-San Diego posts the lowest average net price on the page at $12,470.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $89,203 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| University of Southern California reports $89,203 in median earnings for its Neuroscience graduates four years after completing, and carries an average net price of $32,740. | |||||
| 2 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $72,910 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| Admitting 52% of applicants, University of San Diego shows median federal debt of $25,000 among Neuroscience completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $69,027 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| A public university in Santa Cruz, University of California-Santa Cruz ranks 109th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 4 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $63,720 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| University of California-Davis posts median earnings of $63,720 for its Neuroscience graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $9,211 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 5 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $61,799 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| A public university in La Jolla, University of California-San Diego reports median federal debt of $19,000 among Neuroscience completers who borrowed and median earnings of $61,799 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $55,404 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| Ranked 22nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants. | |||||
| 7 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $51,865 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| With an admission rate of 76%, University of California-Riverside reports an average net price of $14,304 and a median of $51,865 for its Neuroscience graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $24,035 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Neuroscience graduates earn a median of $24,035 four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Neuroscience graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 1 of the 8 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of Southern California at $89,203 to the lowest reported figure of $24,035 spans $65,168, and the gap between University of Southern California and University of San Diego is $16,293.
Related rankings
- Best Neuroscience Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in California
- Best Neuroscience Programs in Massachusetts
- Best Neuroscience Programs in Pennsylvania
- Neuroscience Programs in New York
- Best Biological Sciences Colleges in California
- Biological Sciences Colleges in California for Social Mobility