Cognitive Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the mind, intelligence, and thought processes through the integration of multiple scholarly traditions. By synthesizing insights from computer science, philosophy, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience, and related domains, the program explores how humans and machines perceive, learn, reason, and make decisions.
- Mathematics and Logic: Develops foundational skills in formal reasoning, symbolic systems, and quantitative analysis essential for modeling cognitive phenomena.
- Cognitive Process Modeling: Examines how mental functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving can be represented through computational and mathematical frameworks.
- Dynamic Systems Theory: Investigates cognition as an evolving, nonlinear process shaped by continuous interactions between the brain, body, and environment.
- Learning Theories: Explores mechanisms underlying human and artificial learning, including classical conditioning, reinforcement, and adaptive behavior.
- Brain and Cognition: Studies the neural basis of mental functions, linking brain structures and activity patterns to conscious experience and behavior.
- Neural Networking: Focuses on artificial and biological neural networks as models for information processing, pattern recognition, and adaptive intelligence.
- Programming and Computational Methods: Provides hands-on training in algorithm design, simulation, and software tools used to test and implement cognitive theories.
- Language Acquisition: Analyzes how humans develop linguistic competence, including the interplay of biology, environment, and cognitive development.
- Perception and Behavior: Investigates how sensory input is interpreted and transformed into meaningful actions, drawing from both psychological and computational approaches.
- Applications in Artificial Intelligence: Applies cognitive principles to the design of intelligent systems, including natural language processing, robotics, and human-computer interaction.
Cognitive Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Cognitive Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Cognitive Science degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 252,400 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
Cognitive Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,300 in Vermont to $157,605 in Massachusetts—a 166% difference. The highest-paying states include Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 252,400 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Cognitive Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Cognitive Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Cognitive Science is found at University of California (UCSD), San Diego (762 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (283 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (245 graduates), University of California (UCD), Davis (188 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (159 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,111 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
762 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
283 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
245 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
188 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
159 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
143 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
72 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
63 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
62 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
40 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
40 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Rice University |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Occidental College (Oxy) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Los Angeles, California | Private | oxy.edu |
| Pomona College |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Claremont, California | Private | pomona.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
|
12 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Richmond (UR) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | University of Richmond, Virginia | Private | richmond.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| Scripps College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Claremont, California | Private | scrippscollege.edu |
| Carleton College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | carleton.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Franklin and Marshall College (F&M) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | fandm.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Beloit College (Beloit) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Beloit, Wisconsin | Private | beloit.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Claremont McKenna College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | cmc.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| George Fox University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Newberg, Oregon | Private | georgefox.edu |
| Haverford College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Haverford, Pennsylvania | Private | haverford.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Cognitive Science programs
How much can I earn with a Cognitive Science degree?
Salaries for Cognitive Science graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn around $78,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Massachusetts average $157,605 compared to $59,300 in Vermont. Approximately 252,400 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Cognitive Science programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Cognitive Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSD), San Diego (762 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (283 graduates), and University of California (UCB), Berkeley (245 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Cognitive Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 565 in 2010 to 3,111 in 2023-24. This represents a 451% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Cognitive Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, . Related occupations employ approximately 252,400 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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