Compare 19 Neuroscience. programs in the South. Average earnings: $39,929.
The highest-earning Neuroscience program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $63K earnings gap across 19 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Vanderbilt's Neuroscience program leads with graduates earning $78,554, well above the regional average of $39,929. Duke follows at $69,441, while William & Mary rounds out the top three at $58,560—showing that specialized programs can compete regardless of overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Vanderbilt graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 3.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.18.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $78,554 | 100 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable |
| #2 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $69,441 | 78 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Manageable |
| #3 | William & MaryPublic | $58,560 | 66 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Challenging |
| #4 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $54,487 | 66 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #5 | $48,355 | 116 | $20,500 | Good | $33,574 | High | |
| #6 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $47,845 | 146 | $18,250 | Good | $30,480 | High |
| #7 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $45,846 | 54 | $23,000 | Manageable | $50,786 | High |
| #8 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $43,609 | 135 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | High |
| #9 | Georgia State UniversityPublic | $43,296 | 87 | $20,903 | Manageable | $14,837 | High |
| #10 | $39,444 | 193 | $18,000 | Manageable | $21,495 | High | |
| #11 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $33,030 | 80 | $22,500 | High | $30,006 | High |
| #12 | $32,925 | 228 | $20,500 | High | $26,632 | High | |
| #13 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | $29,418 | 31 | $24,803 | High | $28,135 | High |
| #14 | $29,081 | 173 | $21,500 | High | $35,325 | High | |
| #15 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $26,739 | 28 | $21,761 | High | $52,509 | High |
| #16 | $22,183 | 48 | $14,000 | High | $25,072 | High | |
| #17 | $21,138 | 58 | $20,500 | High | $30,610 | High | |
| #18 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $18,771 | 49 | $17,500 | High | $37,267 | High |
| #19 | University Of DelawarePublic | $15,922 | 64 | $24,572 | High | $43,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
