ProgramsMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies

    Cognitive Science

    CIP30.25

    68 colleges offer Cognitive Science. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Colleges offering it
    68
    at its most common level
    Bachelor's earnings
    $79,016
    median, 4 years after
    Bachelor's debt
    $15,000
    median federal loans
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    Colleges offering it, by degree level

    Certificate
    3
    Bachelor's
    68
    Master's
    20
    Post-baccalaureate certificate
    1
    Doctoral
    18
    Graduate/professional certificate
    12
    Published colleges reporting the program. College Scorecard field of study, 2025.

    What it covers

    About Cognitive Science

    A program that focuses on the study of the mind and the nature of intelligence from the interdisciplinary perspectives of computer science, philosophy, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience, and other disciplines. Includes instruction in mathematics and logic, cognitive process modeling, dynamic systems, learning theories, brain and cognition, neural networking, programming, and applications to topics such as language acquisition, computer systems, and perception and behavior.

    Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 30.25.

    Programs in this field

    Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 30.25.

    • Cognitive Science, General
    • Contemplative Studies/Inquiry

    By degree level

    Earnings and debt by degree level

    Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.

    Colleges offering Cognitive Science and median graduate earnings and debt at each degree level
    Degree levelCollegesMedian earningsMedian debt
    Certificate3Not reportedNot reported
    Bachelor's68$79,0164 yrs after · 19 colleges$15,00019 colleges
    Master's20$71,3644 yrs after · 1 collegeNot reported
    Post-baccalaureate certificate1Not reportedNot reported
    Doctoral18Not reportedNot reported
    Graduate/professional certificate12Not reportedNot reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.

    Bachelor's programs

    Where Cognitive Science graduates earn the most

    Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.

    1. 1Carnegie Mellon University logo

      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates

      $162,106

      debt not reported

    2. 2Stanford University logo

      Stanford University

      Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit · 102 graduates

      $131,650

      debt $8,420

    3. 3Tufts University logo

      Tufts University

      Medford, MA · Private nonprofit · 43 graduates

      $130,801

      debt $18,250

    4. 4University of California-Berkeley logo

      University of California-Berkeley

      Berkeley, CA · Public · 245 graduates

      $120,193

      debt $13,000

    5. 5University of Pennsylvania logo

      University of Pennsylvania

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 48 graduates

      $109,784

      debt $15,480

    6. 6University of California-Los Angeles logo

      University of California-Los Angeles

      Los Angeles, CA · Public · 283 graduates

      $102,066

      debt $12,896

    7. 7University of Southern California logo

      University of Southern California

      Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 70 graduates

      $93,440

      debt $13,000

    8. 8University of California-San Diego logo

      University of California-San Diego

      La Jolla, CA · Public · 743 graduates

      $81,160

      debt $13,799

    9. 9University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

      Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 155 graduates

      $79,016

      debt $19,500

    10. 10

      Occidental College

      Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates

      $78,782

      debt not reported

    Careers

    Careers this program leads to

    Occupations linked to Cognitive Science by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.

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    Questions about Cognitive Science

    How many colleges offer Cognitive Science?

    Published colleges on CollegesRef report Cognitive Science at these degree levels: certificate (3 colleges), bachelor's (68 colleges), master's (20 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (1 college), doctoral (18 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (12 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).

    What do Cognitive Science graduates earn?

    At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Cognitive Science earn $79,016 a year four years after finishing, across 19 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.

    Where do Cognitive Science graduates earn the most?

    Carnegie Mellon University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Cognitive Science: $162,106 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.