Cognitive Science Degree in Cambridge, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Cognitive Science degree analysis for Cambridge, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.1 yrs
in Cambridge
Cost of Living
133
index (100 = avg)
Cognitive Science in Cambridge, MA Overview
Cambridge, Massachusetts (pop. 118,403) has 6 colleges offering Cognitive Science programs. The local cost of living index of 133 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,322/month. Cognitive Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for UX Research and Experimental Design skills. The adjusted starting salary in Cambridge is approximately $66,500, growing to $126,350 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$13,207/yr
Private Tuition
$57,624/yr
Room & Board
$17,447/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,677/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
75%
Cognitive Science Salary in Cambridge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cambridge's cost of living index of 133 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cognitive Science salary: $50,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Cambridge adjustment factor: 1.33x based on the local cost of living index.
Cognitive Science ROI Calculator for Cambridge
Estimate your return on investment for a Cognitive Science degree using local Cambridge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,207 | Private avg: $57,624
Cambridge avg aid: $14,677/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,616
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,950
vs HS diploma in Cambridge
ROI Payback Period
6.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cambridge
$741,884
Lifetime earnings premium ($864,500) minus total education cost ($122,616)
Student Loan Payoff for Cognitive Science in Cambridge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cambridge for Cognitive Science
Harvard University
private
$57,261/yr
$229,044 total
MIT
private
$57,986/yr
$231,944 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Cognitive Science in Cambridge
Cambridge offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cognitive Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cambridge Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cognitive Science Job Titles
Cognitive Science in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$69K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$51K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Cambridge
Prompt Engineering
$67K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$126K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$113K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$117K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$109K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$106K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cognitive Science Degree in Cambridge — 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 Cambridge.