# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/cognitive-science
- CIP code: 30.25 (Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Colleges offering it: 68 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 68 | $52,547 | $79,016 | $15,000 |
| Master's | 20 | not reported | $71,364 | not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $162,106 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Stanford, CA | $131,650 | $8,420 |
| [Tufts University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tufts-university-2826) | Medford, MA | $130,801 | $18,250 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $120,193 | $13,000 |
| [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Philadelphia, PA | $109,784 | $15,480 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Los Angeles, CA | $102,066 | $12,896 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $93,440 | $13,000 |
| [University of California-San Diego](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-san-diego-ucsd-2887) | La Jolla, CA | $81,160 | $13,799 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,016 | $19,500 |
| [Occidental College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/occidental-college-1988) | Los Angeles, CA | $78,782 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Postsecondary Teachers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postsecondary-teachers-all-other): $77,640 median pay
- [Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/community-and-social-service-specialists-all-other): $56,730 median pay
- [Directors, Religious Activities and Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/directors-religious-activities-and-education): $52,100 median pay
- [Self-Enrichment Teachers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/self-enrichment-teachers): $46,800 median pay
- [Religious Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/religious-workers-all-other): $45,280 median pay

## More in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

- [Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/multi-interdisciplinary-studies-other): 612 colleges
- [International/Globalization Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-globalization-studies): 360 colleges
- [Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/multi-interdisciplinary-studies-general): 350 colleges
- [Biological and Physical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biological-and-physical-sciences): 202 colleges
- [Data Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-science): 194 colleges
- [Data Analytics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/data-analytics): 175 colleges
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sustainability-studies): 150 colleges
- [Nutrition Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/nutrition-sciences): 119 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/