2026 Best Cognitive Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Cognitive Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best cognitive science schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Cognitive Science in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the cognitive science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Cognitive Science
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 ranking of the best cognitive science schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 16 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
Read more about the cognitive science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong cognitive science program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 130 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor 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. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full cognitive science program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Marquette University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 12 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $60,443 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Marquette University
Case Western Reserve University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 29 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $30,198 in the first couple years of their career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,417 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for Case Western Reserve University
Narrow Cognitive Science Schools by State
More Cognitive Science Rankings
View All Cognitive Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 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.
