Cognitive Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence, combining psychology, neuroscience, AI, and philosophy.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$95K
salary
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Cognitive Science Overview
Interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence, combining psychology, neuroscience, AI, and philosophy.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
20%
Lifetime Premium
$650K
Female Graduates
48%
Cognitive Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$19,800
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$19,800
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$630,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($650,000) minus net degree cost ($19,800)
Cognitive Science Salary Progression
Common Cognitive Science Careers
UX Researcher
Product Manager
AI Research Scientist
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Cognitive Science
#1
MIT
#2
UC San Diego
#3
Stanford
#4
Carnegie Mellon
#5
UC Berkeley
Related Majors
Cognitive Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Cognitive Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for cognitive science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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