Best institutions to study Behavioral Neuroscience
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems.
32 U.S. institutions graduated 1,391 Behavioral Neuroscience students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2706, a specialization of Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27), and leads most directly to the Managers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 11-9199).
About Behavioral Neuroscience programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems. Includes instruction in functional neuroanatomy, neural system development, biochemical neural regulatory mechanisms, neurological biophysics, memory storage and retrieval, physiology of cognition and perception, physiological bases of psychopathology and behavioral disorders, psychopharmacology, comparative psychobiology, molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, and specialized experimental design and research methods.
See also: 30.1701 - Behavioral Sciences., 26.1501 - Neuroscience., 30.1001 - Biopsychology., 26.1504 - Neurobiology and Behavior.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Behavioral Neuroscience program, a subset of Research and Experimental Psychology, delves into the scientific study of the biological foundations of behavior and psychological functioning. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding how biological processes influence mental health and behavior, preparing them for various roles in psychology and related fields.
Students in this program will explore topics such as functional neuroanatomy, psychopharmacology, and the physiological bases of cognition. Coursework emphasizes experimental design and research methods, equipping students with the skills needed to conduct scientific investigations into behavior and brain function.
Credentials awarded
What Behavioral Neuroscience graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,316 graduates / yr · 21 institutions95%
- Master's degree42 graduates / yr · 6 institutions3.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship25 graduates / yr · 9 institutions1.8%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years7 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Behavioral Neuroscience completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 978 |
| 2013 | 1,038 |
| 2014 | 1,198 |
| 2015 | 1,156 |
| 2016 | 1,268 |
| 2017 | 1,257 |
| 2018 | 1,249 |
| 2019 | 1,215 |
| 2020 | 1,310 |
| 2021 | 1,352 |
| 2022 | 1,306 |
| 2023 | 1,374 |
| 2024 | 1,378 |
| 2025 | 1,391 |
Top 32 institutions for Behavioral Neuroscience, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 394 | 93% | — | $27,748 |
| 2 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor's | 327 | 93% | — | $31,568 |
| 3 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's | 171 | 83% | — | $34,431 |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 100 | 63% | — | $23,981 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicBachelor's | 65 | 46% | — | $35,155 |
| 6 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 61 | 74% | — | — |
| 7 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 42 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 8 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 29 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Centre College Danville, KYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 81% | $18,407 | — |
| 10 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor's | 26 | 96% | — | — |
| 11 | Villanova University Villanova, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 92% | $33,774 | $39,218 |
| 12 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FLPublicBachelor's | 18 | 69% | — | $30,816 |
| 13 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 76% | $36,137 | — |
| 14 | Lindsey Wilson University Columbia, KYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 44% | $14,471 | — |
| 15 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MOPublicBachelor's | 12 | 54% | — | $35,556 |
| 16 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicDoctoralMaster's | 12 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Harding University Searcy, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 69% | $19,423 | — |
| 18 | Colby College Waterville, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 89% | $15,696 | — |
| 19 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 62% | $23,073 | — |
| 20 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MOPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 42% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicDoctoralMaster's | 5 | 83% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 64% | — | — |
| 23 | Pace University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 60% | $29,994 | — |
| 24 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoral | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 25 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 70% | $25,578 | — |
| 26 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicDoctoral | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 27 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicDoctoral | 2 | 61% | — | — |
| 28 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicDoctoral | 2 | 82% | — | — |
| 29 | Albright College Reading, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 51% | $21,906 | — |
| 30 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 49% | $24,187 | — |
| 31 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 67% | — | — |
| 32 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicDoctoral | 1 | 65% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field (CIP 42.27) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 18 states
Where Behavioral Neuroscience graduates come from. Each state links to all Research and Experimental Psychology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | 567 | University of California - Los Angeles394 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 327 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor327 / yr |
| Florida | 3 | 179 | Florida Atlantic University100 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 65 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus65 / yr |
| Connecticut | 3 | 61 | Wesleyan University42 / yr |
| New York | 6 | 51 | Teachers College at Columbia University29 / yr |
| Kentucky | 2 | 41 | Centre College27 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 26 | University of Virginia - Main Campus26 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 22 | Villanova University20 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 19 | Northwest Missouri State University12 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 9 | Harding University9 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 8 | Colby College8 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 7 | Cornell College7 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | Indiana University - Indianapolis2 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2 | Southern Adventist University2 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln1 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 1 | West Virginia University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9199, Managers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Behavioral Neuroscience program can pursue careers in various fields, including management, biological sciences, and education. The job outlook is promising, with an annual growth rate of 4.5% and approximately 106,700 annual openings. A bachelor's degree is typically required, with a median wage of $136,550.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2706
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Managers, All Otherprimary SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1066 | $80,340 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Psychologists, All Other SOC 19-3039 | $110,840 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~3,900 | Master's degree |
Life Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1099 | $93,750 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~400 | Bachelor's degree |
Related careers
Other Research and Experimental Psychology specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27).
- Research and Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.279914,082 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.27044,599 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Developmental and Child PsychologyCIP 42.27031,771 graduates / yr63 institutions
- Social PsychologyCIP 42.2707455 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Cognitive Psychology and PsycholinguisticsCIP 42.2701382 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Psychometrics and Quantitative PsychologyCIP 42.2708210 graduates / yr16 institutions
- PsychopharmacologyCIP 42.2709partial data74 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Personality PsychologyCIP 42.2705limited data23 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Comparative PsychologyCIP 42.2702limited data16 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Developmental and Adolescent Psychology42.2710
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Behavioral Neuroscience.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Graduates can work as managers, biological scientists, or psychology teachers, among other roles.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 32 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Behavioral Neuroscience program.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.5%.
What is the CIP code for Behavioral Neuroscience?+
Behavioral Neuroscience is CIP 42.2706 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems. Includes instruction in functional neuroanatomy, neural system development, biochemical neural regulatory mechanisms, neurological biophysics, memory storage and retrieval, physiology of cognition and perception, physiological bases of psychopathology and behavioral disorders, psychopharmacology, comparative psychobiology, molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, and specialized experimental design and research methods.
How many institutions offer Behavioral Neuroscience programs?+
32 U.S. institutions reported Behavioral Neuroscience graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 18 states, awarding 1,391 credentials in the year. That is 6.0% of all Research and Experimental Psychology graduates.
How much do Behavioral Neuroscience graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Managers, All Other occupation, which Behavioral Neuroscience most directly leads to, pays a median of $141,900 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field report median earnings of $34,431 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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