2026 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for cognitive science students.
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2026 Best Value Cognitive Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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 University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for cognitive science in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the cognitive science program here. 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. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value cognitive science schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in cognitive science will find it at Marquette University, which ranked #3. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete the cognitive science program here. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in cognitive science will find it at Case Western Reserve University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Cognitive Science graduates carry a median of $25,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $30,198. Set against $25,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
