by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cognitive Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/cognitive-science/cognitive-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value cognitive science schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cognitive science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Rice University earned the #1 spot for value among cognitive science schools in Texas. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $13,000. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $47,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in cognitive science will find it at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans. Cognitive Science graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $44,752 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.