Cognitive Science Degree in Providence, RI — Salary & ROI 2026
Cognitive Science degree analysis for Providence, RI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$134K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Providence
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Cognitive Science in Providence, RI Overview
Providence, Rhode Island (pop. 190,934) has 7 colleges offering Cognitive Science programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,476/month. Cognitive Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for UX Research and Experimental Design skills. The adjusted starting salary in Providence is approximately $70,500, growing to $133,950 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,259/yr
Private Tuition
$59,540/yr
Room & Board
$17,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,708/yr
Unemployment
4.3%
Graduation Rate
54%
Cognitive Science Salary in Providence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Providence's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Cognitive Science salary: $50,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Providence adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Cognitive Science ROI Calculator for Providence
Estimate your return on investment for a Cognitive Science degree using local Providence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,259 | Private avg: $59,540
Providence avg aid: $15,708/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$131,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,150
vs HS diploma in Providence
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Providence
$784,532
Lifetime earnings premium ($916,500) minus total education cost ($131,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Cognitive Science in Providence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Providence for Cognitive Science
Brown University
private
$62,680/yr
$250,720 total
Providence College
private
$56,400/yr
$225,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Rhode Island
$4,994/yr
Top Employers for Cognitive Science in Providence
Providence offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cognitive Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Providence Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Cognitive Science Job Titles
Cognitive Science in Nearby Rhode Island Cities
Other STEM Majors in Providence
Prompt Engineering
$71K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$134K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$120K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$124K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$116K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$120K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$113K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cognitive Science Degree in Providence — 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 Providence.