ROI Major

Neuroscience and Neurobiology at Bowling Green State University

OH · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 26.15

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Neuroscience and Neurobiology degree from Bowling Green State University earn a median salary of $48,276 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,580. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.7 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$35,757

Typical Career

$48,276

Top Performers

$60,590

Estimated break-even: 12.7 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$322

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,023. Most students can comfortably afford about a $322 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 23.3%
Health Care & Social Assistance 16.2%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 9.3%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$53,580

Nominal: $48,276 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

12.7 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $23,041 $29,124 $34,299
5 Years After Graduation $35,757 $48,276 $60,590
10 Years After Graduation $38,692 $62,818 $104,958

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $48,276 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,276 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010) = $53,580 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates with a degree in Neuroscience and Neurobiology from Bowling Green State University can expect a steady increase in earnings over time. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $29,124, which rises to $48,276 after five years and reaches $62,818 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns more closely with the national average at $53,580.47, indicating that graduates maintain a competitive edge in terms of real income relative to their peers across the country.

The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (23.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (16.2%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.3%). This distribution suggests a strong alignment with sectors that prioritize advanced education and specialized knowledge. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 12.7 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for pursuing this degree. Overall, the career trajectory and industry placement suggest a favorable outlook for graduates in terms of both earnings and job opportunities.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Neuroscience and Neurobiology degree at Bowling Green State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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