Cognitive Science Degree in Boise, ID — Salary & ROI 2026
Cognitive Science degree analysis for Boise, ID. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Boise
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Cognitive Science in Boise, ID Overview
Boise is one of Idaho's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 13,506. Public tuition averages $8,060/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Cognitive Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for UX Research and Experimental Design skills. The adjusted starting salary in Boise is approximately $60,500, growing to $114,950 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$8,060/yr
Private Tuition
$34,250/yr
Room & Board
$13,521/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,294/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
58%
Cognitive Science Salary in Boise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boise's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cognitive Science salary: $50,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Boise adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Cognitive Science ROI Calculator for Boise
Estimate your return on investment for a Cognitive Science degree using local Boise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,060 | Private avg: $34,250
Boise avg aid: $15,294/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,150
vs HS diploma in Boise
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boise
$700,176
Lifetime earnings premium ($786,500) minus total education cost ($86,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Cognitive Science in Boise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boise for Cognitive Science
Boise State University
public
$8,060/yr
$32,240 total
College of Idaho
private
$34,250/yr
$137,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Western Idaho
$3,456/yr
Top Employers for Cognitive Science in Boise
Boise offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cognitive Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boise Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cognitive Science Job Titles
Cognitive Science in Nearby Idaho Cities
Meridian, ID
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Nampa, ID
$48K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Idaho Falls, ID
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Caldwell, ID
$46K starting · COL 92.8
3 colleges
Pocatello, ID
$59K starting · COL 118
6 colleges
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$53K starting · COL 105.2
3 colleges
Twin Falls, ID
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Boise
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$115K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$103K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$106K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$99K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$103K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$97K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cognitive Science Degree in Boise — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Cognitive Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Boise.