2027 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Cognitive Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/cognitive-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong cognitive science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for cognitive science students.
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2027 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cognitive science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Cognitive Science Schools
For return on investment in cognitive science, no school beat Johns Hopkins University this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $42,602. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Delaware is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $54,155. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University At Buffalo earned it the #3 place for cognitive science. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #4 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the best values for cognitive science. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $23,258. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rutgers University New Brunswick earned it the #5 place for cognitive science. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $25,018 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $38,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for cognitive science value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $18,660. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $84,314. Set against $18,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Barnard College earned the #7 position for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $50,790. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. Barnard College admits about 9% of applicants.
Lehigh University came in at #8 for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #9 position for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Vassar College came in at #10 for value in cognitive science this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,030. Students borrow a median of $18,486 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of Vassar College earn a median of $37,412 early in their careers. Set against $18,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vassar College admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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.