2027 Best Cognitive Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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 7 schools to build this 2027 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
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for cognitive science. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 10 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for cognitive science. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 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. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. About 23 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Cognitive Science graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cognitive science from Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 72 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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best cognitive science schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 118 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $44,698 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cognitive science program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Marquette University earned the #6 position for cognitive science this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 14 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cognitive science program at Marquette University
Case Western Reserve University earned the #7 position for cognitive science this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 34 cognitive science degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Cognitive Science graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $30,198 early in their careers. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,417 in student loans.
See the full cognitive science program report for Case Western Reserve University
Narrow Cognitive Science Schools by State
More Cognitive Science Rankings
View All Cognitive Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 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.
