Skip to content

Neuroscience Schools and Programs in The United States

41 schools in The United States teach Neuroscience.

Neuroscience Studies in The United States

Neuroscience is the study of the structure and function of the nervous system. In the United States it is usually taught as an interdisciplinary subject that draws on biology, psychology, chemistry and medicine. Harvard University describes its undergraduate programme as the study of the biological mechanisms behind behaviour and of how brains process information, at every level from behaviour and cognition down to cells and molecules.

US universities offer neuroscience at every level, from a bachelor's major to the PhD, and much of the teaching is closely tied to laboratory research. The schools listed on this page are mostly research universities and liberal arts colleges.

How the degrees are organised

  • Bachelor's degree (major or concentration in neuroscience): four or five years, according to EducationUSA, with general "core" courses and specialised "major" courses
  • Master's degree: usually two years of further specialisation, often research-based
  • Doctorate (PhD): five to eight years of research training, usually in a graduate programme in neuroscience or the biomedical sciences
  • Combined MD/PhD programmes at some medical schools for students who want to do both clinical work and research

Most undergraduates first take courses in biology, chemistry and psychology, then choose upper-level electives and often a research project or thesis. At the University of Pittsburgh, the department reports that the great majority of its neuroscience majors go on to medical or graduate school. Its master's programme covers areas such as neuroplasticity, synaptic transmission, cognitive and developmental neuroscience, but it is small and mainly for students already working with faculty in the department, who fund it.

Graduate study is commonly organised as a university-wide programme rather than a single department. Boston University, for example, runs neuroscience training across several schools and campuses, including its Graduate Program for Neuroscience.

Accreditation

EducationUSA counts nearly 4,000 accredited institutions in US higher education. There is no national ministry that approves degrees; institutions are accredited at national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies. Students should check that a university is accredited before applying, as this affects how credits and degrees are recognised by employers and other universities.

Admission and visa

Requirements vary by institution. For a bachelor's degree, EducationUSA lists secondary school transcripts, test scores that may be required to show academic ability and English proficiency, recommendation letters and a personal essay. Applications are typically due between November and January for a September start. PhD programmes look closely at research experience and recommendations; the Rockefeller University in New York, for instance, opened applications for September 2027 enrolment in 2026.

International students need to be accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) before they can apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa.

Costs and funding

Undergraduate tuition at private universities and liberal arts colleges is high, and EducationUSA advises budgeting for tuition increases of 6-10% a year. PhD study works differently: graduate teaching or research assistantships that come with a tuition waiver and/or a stipend are very common at doctoral level. At the Rockefeller University, PhD students receive full financial support and pay $0 in tuition.

Where to study neuroscience in the United States

The schools are spread across the country, with several in Baltimore (Johns Hopkins University and UMBC), Boston (Boston University and Emmanuel College), Philadelphia (the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University), New York (New York University and the Rockefeller University) and Los Angeles (UCLA and the University of Southern California). Other examples are Harvard University in Cambridge, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Stanford University and Duke University.

Liberal arts colleges offer neuroscience in a smaller, teaching-focused setting with a broad general education. Examples on this page include Wellesley College, Bryn Mawr College, Middlebury College, Colorado College and Hope College.

Careers

Neuroscience graduates go on to medical school, graduate research, clinical research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, healthcare, science communication and data analysis. Research careers usually require a doctorate. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical scientists typically have a PhD, usually in biology or a related life science, and PhD programmes often focus on a field such as neurology. The BLS projects employment of medical scientists to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035 and reports a median annual wage of $103,410 in May 2025.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a neuroscience degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree takes four or five years, a master's about two years, and a PhD five to eight years, according to EducationUSA.

Is a PhD in neuroscience funded?

Often, yes. Teaching or research assistantships with a tuition waiver or stipend are very common at doctoral level; the Rockefeller University, for example, charges PhD students no tuition.

Can I study neuroscience at a small college?

Yes. Several liberal arts colleges, such as Wellesley College and Bryn Mawr College, offer neuroscience alongside a broad general education.

What do neuroscience graduates do?

Many continue to medical or graduate school; others work in research, healthcare or industry. Research careers as a medical scientist usually require a PhD.