To date, we’ve asked 85 current and past neuroscience students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

There are thousands of majors available, and it can be overwhelming trying to choose one.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a neuroscience degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a neuroscience degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are neuroscience students compared to other degrees?

Overall, neuroscience students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.3 out of 5. This is standard compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, neuroscience students rate their happiness similarly to students in Animal Sciences and Related Studies, Business and Political Science.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to neuroscience

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Social Work$41,956
Animal Sciences and Related Studies$57,545
Neuroscience$49,949
Business$82,499
Political Science$81,884
Fine Arts$46,824
Management Information Systems$89,165

Let's break that down further.

Are neuroscience students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
101 ratings
5 stars
37%
4 stars
40%
3 stars
15%
2 stars
5%
1 stars
2%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
102 ratings
5 stars
47%
4 stars
28%
3 stars
15%
2 stars
6%
1 stars
2%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in neuroscience experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did neuroscience graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what neuroscience grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.9 out of 5 stars
99 ratings
5 stars
14%
4 stars
24%
3 stars
22%
2 stars
18%
1 stars
18%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were neuroscience students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.3 out of 5 stars
85 ratings
5 stars
16%
4 stars
28%
3 stars
28%
2 stars
13%
1 stars
11%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

Read about Career Paths