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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Cognitive Science

58 Ranked Colleges
2,642 Degrees Awarded
$35,800 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 2,768 people earned their degree in cognitive science, making the major the 238th most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,642 cognitive science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in cognitive science. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their cognitive science program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Cognitive Science Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree cognitive science students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Cognitive Science

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 699 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of California - San Diego Cognitive Science Report

2

Out of the 58 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Merced landed the #2 spot on the list. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 64 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Merced Cognitive Science Report

3
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Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 58 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Occidental College landed the #3 spot on the list. Oxy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Occidental College Cognitive Science Report

4
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Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York

Out of the 58 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Vassar College landed the #4 spot on the list. Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Poughkeepsie, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Vassar College Cognitive Science Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 140 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at UC Santa Cruz

6
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Scripps College
Claremont, California

Scripps College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Claremont, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s cognitive science students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at Scripps

7

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking, coming in at #7. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 265 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Cognitive Science at University of California - Berkeley

8
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Rice University
Houston, Texas

Rice University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Cognitive Science at Rice University

9
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Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking, coming in at #9. Beloit is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beloit, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at Beloit

10

University of California - Davis ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 184 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s cognitive science students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at University of California - Davis

11
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Pomona College
Claremont, California

With a ranking of #11, Pomona College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Pomona College is located in Claremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Pomona Cognitive Science Report

12

With a ranking of #12, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s cognitive science degrees to 208 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Cognitive Science Report

13
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Stanford University
Stanford, California

Stanford University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 67 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Stanford University Cognitive Science Report

14
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Hampshire College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Hampshire is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 3 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at Hampshire College

15
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University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

With a ranking of #15, University of Delaware did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Located in Newark, Delaware, this large public school awarded 75 degrees to qualified bachelors’s cognitive science students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at UD

16
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Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, Carleton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. Carleton is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 6 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at Carleton College

17
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Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. This small school is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Swarthmore Cognitive Science Report

18
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Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

Tufts University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Tufts University Cognitive Science Report

19

Case Western Reserve University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s cognitive science students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University

20
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Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St Louis came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Cognitive Science at Washington University in St Louis

21
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University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking, coming in at #21. UE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Cognitive Science at University of Evansville

22
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George Fox University
Newberg, Oregon

With a ranking of #22, George Fox University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. GFU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newberg, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full George Fox University Cognitive Science Report

23
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Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major ranking, coming in at #23. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s cognitive science students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Yale University Cognitive Science Report

24

With a ranking of #24, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 135 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Cognitive Science at U-M

25
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #25, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Cognitive Science Major list. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 72 bachelors’s cognitive science degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full UPenn Cognitive Science Report

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