Finding the Best Value Cognitive Science School for You
The cognitive science program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Cognitive Science Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Cognitive Science Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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2026 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cognitive science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Cognitive Science Schools
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for cognitive science in the United States. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $8,055 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $105,695. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $17,481 to complete the cognitive science program here. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $39,839. Set against $17,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Rice University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value cognitive science schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $47,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for cognitive science. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $13,950 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $64,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $53,962 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine landed the #6 spot for cognitive science value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $16,539. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of California Davis placed #7 among the best values for cognitive science. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $15,000. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $42,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #8 position for value in cognitive science this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $41,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #9 position for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $20,778. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #10 spot for cognitive science value this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $44,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of California Merced ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value cognitive science schools. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,653, compared with $46,541 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the cognitive science program here. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $32,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #12 position for value in cognitive science this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $42,602 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value cognitive science schools. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $44,752. That is a strong return on a $20,531 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Delaware earned the #14 position for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #15 spot for cognitive science value this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $35,384. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #16 among the best values for cognitive science. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Vanderbilt University landed the #17 spot for cognitive science value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $38,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value cognitive science schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Pomona College came in at #19 for value in cognitive science this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,420. Cognitive Science graduates of Pomona College earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #20 spot for cognitive science value this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #21 among the best values for cognitive science. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the cognitive science program here. Cognitive Science graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $30,996 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #22 position for value in cognitive science this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $25,018 in student loans. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $38,132. Set against $25,018 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Brown University placed #23 among the best values for cognitive science. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for cognitive science graduates is $13,025. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Yale University placed #24 among the best values for cognitive science. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career cognitive science graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Dartmouth College landed the #25 spot for cognitive science value this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. That is a strong return on a $16,989 median debt. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 37 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cognitive science value ranking:
Narrow Cognitive Science Schools by Region
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 77 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
[Cognitive Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/cognitive-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
