2026 Best Cognitive Science Schools in the Southwest Region

Cognitive Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools to find the best for cognitive science students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Cognitive Science Schools in the Southwest Region

Best Schools for Cognitive Science in the Southwest 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

1

The University Of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

30 Cognitive Science Degrees Awarded

$44,752 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Dallas, our #1 school for cognitive science. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $44,752. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans. See the full cognitive science program report for The University Of Texas At Dallas

2

Rice University
Houston, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

32 Cognitive Science Degrees Awarded

$47,459 Median Starting Salary

Rice University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 32 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $47,459. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cognitive science from Rice University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 3 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.