2027 Best Cognitive Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Cognitive Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their cognitive science programs.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best cognitive science schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Cognitive Science in the United States
See the highest-ranked cognitive science schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.
Top Schools in Cognitive Science
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in cognitive science. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 113 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Stanford University earn around $105,695 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,055 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Stanford University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for cognitive science. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 280 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $64,559 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,950.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 22 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Yale University one of the top schools for cognitive science. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 66 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
Get the full cognitive science details for Yale University
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $52,123 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
See the full cognitive science program report for Indiana University Bloomington
University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best cognitive science schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 307 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $53,962 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of California Los Angeles
Dartmouth College earned the #7 position for cognitive science this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $81,992 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
Get the full cognitive science details for Dartmouth College
Johns Hopkins University landed the #8 spot for cognitive science this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $42,602 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Johns Hopkins University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #9 for cognitive science this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 95 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $84,314 in their early career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from University Of Pennsylvania
Barnard College earned the #10 position for cognitive science this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 20 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
Read more about the cognitive science program at Barnard College
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #11 spot for cognitive science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
Get the full cognitive science details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Lehigh University landed the #12 spot for cognitive science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 15 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $70,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Lehigh University
Tufts University came in at #13 for cognitive science this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tufts University awarded about 47 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $75,672 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
Get the full cognitive science details for Tufts University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $57,461 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #15 among the best cognitive science schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 55 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
Get the full cognitive science details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Vanderbilt University landed the #16 spot for cognitive science this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $38,752 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
Get the full cognitive science details for Vanderbilt University
University Of California Davis ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 194 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $42,342. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from University Of California Davis
Carleton College placed #18 among the best cognitive science schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $45,096 in their early career. Carleton College graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for Carleton College
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #19 among the best cognitive science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete this degree.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of Minnesota Duluth
University Of California San Diego ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 833 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $39,839 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,481.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of California San Diego
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #21 spot for cognitive science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. About 76% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 32 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $44,752 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans.
Read more about the cognitive science program at The University Of Texas At Dallas
Pomona College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Pomona College graduates 93% of students within six years. Pomona College awarded about 11 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Pomona College
University At Buffalo earned the #23 position for cognitive science this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 19 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232.
Read more about the cognitive science program at University At Buffalo
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 113 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $44,698 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Marquette University landed the #25 spot for cognitive science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 14 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $60,443 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cognitive science program at Marquette University
Rest of the Top 39 Cognitive Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for cognitive science this year:
Other Cognitive Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Cognitive Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Cognitive Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 39 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.