2026 Best Cognitive Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Cognitive Science bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 77 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Cognitive Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year in the United States. Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Graduates carry a median of $8,055 in student loans. See the full Stanford University profile
Out of the 77 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #2 spot. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Get the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology report
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Carnegie Mellon University Cognitive Science students take on a median of $23,529 in debt. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
The strong Cognitive Science programs at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #4 place in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $13,950. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,686. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $18,660. More on University Of Pennsylvania
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #6 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Based in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $24,975. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Yale University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Yale University is a private not-for-profit school based in New Haven, CT. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $14,357. Get the full Yale University report
George Fox University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Newberg, OR, George Fox University is a private not-for-profit institution. George Fox University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $41,320. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $25,324. Read more about George Fox University
Rice University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. Read the full report on Rice University
Washington University In St Louis placed #10 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit school based in St. Louis, MO. About 94% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $17,500. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
University Of Southern California placed #11 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $19,669 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Read more about University Of California Los Angeles
Tufts University placed #13 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Based in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Read more about Tufts University
Franklin And Marshall College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Lancaster, PA, Franklin And Marshall College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,794. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $20,411. Read more about Franklin And Marshall College
University Of Richmond ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. University Of Richmond posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,230. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $21,634. Read more about University Of Richmond
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Based in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Rutgers University New Brunswick Cognitive Science students take on a median of $25,018 in debt. More on Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of California San Diego placed #17 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Based in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Graduates carry a median of $17,481 in student loans. Get the full University Of California San Diego report
Occidental College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $66,274. Occidental College Cognitive Science students take on a median of $22,967 in debt. See the full Occidental College profile
University Of California Davis placed #19 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. This public school is set in Davis, CA. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. University Of California Davis Cognitive Science students take on a median of $15,000 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California Davis
Vassar College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Vassar College graduates 91% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,030. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $18,486. Read more about Vassar College
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Cognitive Science students take on a median of $22,500 in debt. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. See the full Indiana University Bloomington profile
New York University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. New York University posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $21,897. Read the full report on New York University
Vanderbilt University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,498. Graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Read more about Vanderbilt University
University Of California Irvine came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Irvine, CA, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. More on University Of California Irvine
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cognitive Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
The University Of Texas At Dallas did well this year, earning the #27 position. Based in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $20,531. More on The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Georgia did well this year, earning the #28 position. This public school is set in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $15,750. More on University Of Georgia
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #29 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school based in Mankato, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Minnesota State University Mankato Cognitive Science students take on a median of $25,260 in debt. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Johns Hopkins University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $13,426. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
University Of Delaware did well this year, earning the #31 position. This public school is set in Newark, DE. About 82% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
University Of California Santa Cruz did well this year, earning the #32 position. This public school is set in Santa Cruz, CA. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. University Of California Santa Cruz Cognitive Science students take on a median of $19,500 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of California Merced did well this year, earning the #33 position. University Of California Merced is a public school based in Merced, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, compared with $46,541 for out-of-state students. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $21,000. More on University Of California Merced
University Of Utah came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Utah
Scripps College
Scripps College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read the full report on Scripps College
University Of Evansville placed #36 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Evansville
George Mason University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read the full report on George Mason University
Brown University
Brown University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. See the full Brown University profile
California State University Fresno placed #39 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Fresno
Carleton College
Carleton College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Carleton College
Arizona State University placed #41 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. More on Arizona State University
Haverford College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Haverford College
University Of Kentucky came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
University Of Chicago came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Chicago
Hampshire College did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on Hampshire College
Beloit College
Beloit College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. More on Beloit College
Cuny Lehman College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Cuny Lehman College
Lehigh University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Lehigh University report
Columbia University In The City Of New York did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Henderson State University placed #50 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Get the full Henderson State University report
Related Cognitive Science Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Cognitive Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Cognitive Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 77 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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