by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 73 U.S. colleges awarded 3,911 degrees and certificates in Cognitive Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 95% of graduates. College Factual ranks 40 schools in its 2027 Best Cognitive Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $46,058 one year after completing, rising to $87,786 after four years.
Discover how people think and why they act the way they do with a major in Cognitive Science. Students will take classes in a variety of subjects in order to fully understand the human mind. Learn how the fields connect and work together in order to make discoveries through different theories and methods. This is a fascinating major that will reveal the way people think, solve problems and reason.
Classes will be in topics such as psychology, computer science, math, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience, chemistry, language acquisition, logic, and biology.
A degree in Cognitive Science explores Cognitive Science.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, cognitive science draws strong interest, with 3,911 degrees awarded annually. 73 colleges award cognitive science degrees, an average of 54 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 936.
By level, the 3,911 awards include 3,734 bachelor’s degrees, 103 master’s degrees and 74 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of cognitive science degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,641 of 3,911). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Asian (1,305) and White (1,046), and international students earned 467.
College Factual ranks 40 schools in its 2027 Best Cognitive Science Schools ranking, including 39 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks cognitive science schools within 15 states. In all, 73 colleges offer cognitive science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cognitive Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cognitive science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,734 of the 3,911 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cognitive science call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary major that requires organization and time management. Be ready to work through difficult mathematics problems and complicated labs. Students need to memorize terminology and theories and apply them to different subject areas. Learn to work cooperatively with others and listen to new opinions and perspectives.
This major encourages the development of research and problem solving skills. You should have a flexible mind and be open to new methods. Be ready listen and communicate your own findings. Your coursework will involve both written and oral presentations.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cognitive science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,734 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 103 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 74 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cognitive science, at 41.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.6% |
| Master’s degree | 19.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 12.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Cognitive Science, with an average median salary of $95,981; the strongest outlook belongs to Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Instructor, Computer Technology Instructor and Military Science Teacher.
A Cognitive Science degree will prepare you to pursue further education in the behavioral sciences fields as well as different directions such as law or medicine. Graduates who wish to go straight into a career can find work in the computer industry working with artificial intelligence, software design and development, human-computer interface design, or cognitive engineering. Those interested in medicine can become neuroscientists, bio-technicians, or pharmacists, although these careers may need additional education.
The occupation related to cognitive science with the most projected jobs is Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, at 964,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | 944,792 | 8.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
Cognitive Science graduates earn a median $46,058 one year after completing their program, $87,786 after four years and $79,238 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,058 |
| 4 years | $87,786 |
| 5 years | $79,238 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cognitive science is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | $77,096 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
Cognitive Science includes 2 concentrations that together award 3,911 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Cognitive Science, General (3,904) and Contemplative Studies/Inquiry (7). It has 48 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 146,511 degrees a year; the largest are Biological and Physical Sciences (29,811), Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (29,665) and Data Analytics (17,572). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Science, General | 3,904 |
| Contemplative Studies/Inquiry | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 29,811 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 29,665 |
| Data Analytics | 17,572 |
| Data Science | 11,772 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11,175 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 6,906 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,644 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,569 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,567 |
| Natural Sciences | 3,002 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
