Over the past two decades, advancements in neuroscience have outpaced the availability of resources and funding for undergraduate and graduate programs, particularly at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). This disparity has widened the gap in early-career skills development, limiting opportunities for students and faculty at under-resourced institutions. Additionally, selective funding favouring established Research 1 (R1) universities exacerbates inequalities, forcing new researchers into power-imbalanced collaborations with senior faculty. Despite these challenges, innovative pedagogical strategies such as applied research mentoring, case studies, and computational neuroscience courses have emerged at PUIs to bridge the gap. Cost-effective technologies, particularly open-source software and virtual reality (VR), offer promising avenues for enhancing neuroscience education and research, providing immersive learning and procedural skill development. Thus, VR in particular, has demonstrated therapeutic applications and the increased potential for transforming neuroscience education. The future of neuroscience education lies in leveraging these VR tools, fostering interdisciplinary research, and addressing funding inequities to create a more inclusive and equitable field for next generation neuroscientists.