2026 Best Cognitive Science Schools in Pennsylvania
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 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best cognitive science schools.
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Best Schools for Cognitive Science in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania tops our 2026 ranking of the best cognitive science schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 45 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $84,314 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $18,660 in student loans.
Read more about the cognitive science program at University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #2 makes Lehigh University one of the top schools for cognitive science. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
See the full cognitive science program report for Lehigh University
Carnegie Mellon 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 Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 14 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Get the full cognitive science details for Carnegie Mellon University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 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.
