Biopsychology.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Biopsychology.: The DTI for this program is 61.3%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Biopsychology., compare your expected starting salary (currently $36067) to the average debt ($22125) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Biopsychology.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 61.3%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Biopsychology., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($36067) against the typical student debt ($22125), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Biopsychology. is a program that attracts motivated students who want to make an impact. Starting pay for new grads is typically $36067, and with an average debt of $22125, the debt-to-income ratio comes in at 0.61—which is about average for college grads.
This program sees about 208 graduates annually, so you’ll be joining a well-established network. Whether you’re aiming for a high-paying job, a stable career, or a chance to make an impact, Biopsychology. is a great foundation. Remember, your journey is shaped by the opportunities you pursue—so get involved and stay curious!
Degree Overview
Biopsychology (CIP 30.1001) is a science-driven interdisciplinary degree that explores the biological foundations of behavior, emotion, and cognition. It is built on the idea that every thought, feeling, decision, and action has a physical basis in the brain and nervous system. This field is ideal for students who are fascinated by questions like: How do neurons create memory? Why do chemicals affect mood? How does brain structure shape personality and behavior? Biopsychology provides the tools to answer those questions using biology, psychology, and neuroscience together.
For a degree search site, Biopsychology fits students who want to understand human behavior at its deepest level—not just through observation or theory, but through brain anatomy, neural signaling, hormones, genetics, and physiology. It is especially relevant for careers connected to neuroscience, healthcare, research, mental health, biotechnology, and graduate or professional study.
What Is a Biopsychology Degree?
A Biopsychology degree (sometimes called Behavioral Neuroscience or Biological Psychology at some schools) is an interdisciplinary program that combines core psychology concepts with biological and neurological sciences. Unlike traditional psychology programs that focus heavily on behavior, development, or social factors, biopsychology emphasizes the physical systems that produce behavior.
Students study how the brain, spinal cord, hormones, neurotransmitters, and genes influence:
- Learning and memory
- Emotion and motivation
- Stress and mental health
- Sensation and perception
- Decision-making and attention
- Addiction and habit formation
Universities offer this degree to:
- Prepare students for neuroscience and biomedical research
- Build strong foundations for medical, dental, or health-related graduate programs
- Train future professionals in brain-based approaches to mental health
- Create graduates who can bridge psychology with biology and medicine
Biopsychology is often more science-intensive than general psychology and requires comfort with lab work, data analysis, and biological systems.
What Will You Learn?
Students learn how behavior emerges from biological processes. You’ll move beyond “what people do” and focus on how the brain and body make behavior possible. Coursework emphasizes scientific reasoning, experimentation, and evidence-based conclusions.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Graduates typically develop skills such as:
- Understanding brain structure and function—how different regions contribute to behavior
- Neural signaling knowledge—how neurons communicate using electrical and chemical signals
- Experimental design—planning and conducting behavioral or biological research studies
- Data collection and analysis—working with lab data, statistics, and research software
- Critical thinking—evaluating scientific claims about the brain and behavior
- Scientific writing—communicating research findings clearly and accurately
- Ethical reasoning—understanding ethics in human and animal research
- Interdisciplinary integration—connecting biology, psychology, and neuroscience concepts
These skills are especially valuable for research, healthcare, and graduate education.
Topics You May Explore
Coursework varies by institution, but common topics include:
- Neuroanatomy: structure of the brain and nervous system
- Neurophysiology: how neurons fire and communicate
- Behavioral Neuroscience: biological mechanisms behind behavior
- Cognitive Neuroscience: brain processes involved in memory, attention, and decision-making
- Psychopharmacology: how drugs and chemicals affect mood, cognition, and behavior
- Endocrinology: hormones and their influence on stress, emotion, and development
- Genetics and Behavior: how genes interact with environment to shape behavior
- Learning and Memory: neural systems involved in acquiring and storing information
- Sensation and Perception: how the brain processes sensory input
Many programs also include laboratory courses where students gain hands-on research experience.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in biopsychology prepares students for entry-level roles in research, healthcare support, and data-focused positions, as well as further education. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees to specialize further.
Common career paths include:
- Research Assistant: supporting neuroscience or psychology research in labs or hospitals
- Clinical Research Coordinator: managing studies related to mental health or neurological conditions
- Behavioral Health Technician: assisting in treatment settings under licensed professionals
- Laboratory Technician: working with biological samples or experimental equipment
- Data Analyst (health or research focus): working with behavioral or biological datasets
- Medical or Graduate School Path: preparing for MD, PhD, PsyD, or related programs
With graduate education, careers may expand into clinical psychology, neuroscience research, psychiatry, neuropsychology, or academic teaching.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates work in environments where brain, behavior, and health intersect:
- Universities and research institutions
- Hospitals and medical centers
- Mental health and behavioral clinics
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Government and public health agencies
- Nonprofit research organizations
- Private laboratories and clinical trials organizations
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings depend heavily on education level and role.
Typical ranges include:
- Entry-level research or lab roles: often $40,000–$60,000
- Clinical research coordinators: commonly $55,000–$80,000
- Data or research analysts: often $65,000–$95,000
- Advanced-degree professionals: can earn significantly more depending on specialty
Graduate and professional degrees greatly increase long-term earning potential.
Is This Degree Hard?
Biopsychology is considered academically demanding because it combines biology, chemistry, statistics, and psychology. Students must be comfortable with memorization, conceptual understanding, and scientific reasoning. Lab courses and research requirements add to the workload.
However, students who enjoy science and are motivated by understanding how the brain works often find the challenge rewarding.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a strong fit if you:
- Are fascinated by the brain and nervous system
- Enjoy biology and psychology equally
- Want a science-based approach to understanding behavior
- Are considering careers in healthcare, neuroscience, or research
- Plan to pursue graduate or professional school
- Prefer evidence-based explanations over purely theoretical ones
How to Prepare in High School
To prepare for a biopsychology program:
- Take biology and chemistry to build a strong science foundation
- Take psychology if available to learn behavioral concepts
- Strengthen math and statistics skills for data analysis
- Practice scientific writing and critical reading
- Get exposure to research or health-related volunteering when possible
Biopsychology (CIP 30.1001) is an excellent choice for students who want to understand the mind through science. It offers a rigorous, evidence-based pathway into neuroscience, mental health, research, and medicine—grounded in the belief that behavior begins in the brain.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor