2026 Best Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Cognitive Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 77 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology tops our 2026 ranking of the best Cognitive Science doctoral degree schools in the United States. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $13,516. More on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
The strong Cognitive Science programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned it the #2 place in the United States. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Troy, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $24,975. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
You'll be in good company at New York University, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Read the full report on New York University
You'll be in good company at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $20,542. Read the full report on Indiana University Bloomington
Out of the 77 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Stony Brook University landed the #5 spot. Set in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Stony Brook University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
University Of California San Diego landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. University Of California San Diego Cognitive Science students take on a median of $17,481 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California San Diego
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Located in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of California Irvine landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Based in Irvine, CA, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. Get the full University Of California Irvine report
Vanderbilt University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt 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 $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. See the full Vanderbilt University profile
Johns Hopkins University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,730. Johns Hopkins University Cognitive Science students take on a median of $13,426 in debt. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
University Of California Davis placed #11 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of California Davis report
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
Scripps College
Scripps College did well this year, earning the #13 position. See the full Scripps College profile
Stanford University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Stanford University report
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #15 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Delaware did well this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full University Of Delaware report
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
Suny College At Oswego ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. More on Suny College At Oswego
United States Military Academy did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full United States Military Academy report
University Of California Merced came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on University Of California Merced
Barnard College
Barnard College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Barnard College
University Of Georgia came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Georgia report
Hampshire College did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Hampshire College
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. See the full The University Of Texas At Dallas profile
Henderson State University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Henderson State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Evansville did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on University Of Evansville
California State University Fresno ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read more about California State University Fresno
Rice University
Rice University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Rice University profile
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
George Fox University placed #31 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on George Fox University
Tufts University
Tufts University did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Tufts University profile
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Southern California ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
George Mason University did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on George Mason University
Swarthmore College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Swarthmore College profile
University Of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
Franklin And Marshall College placed #39 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Get the full Franklin And Marshall College report
Marquette University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Marquette University
University At Buffalo came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about University At Buffalo
Claremont Mckenna College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Claremont Mckenna College
Michigan Technological University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. See the full Michigan Technological University profile
University Of California Berkeley did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on University Of California Berkeley
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #46 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Duluth
Cornell University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Cornell University
Northwestern University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. See the full Northwestern University profile
Loyola University New Orleans ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. See the full Loyola University New Orleans profile
University Of Chicago placed #50 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Chicago profile
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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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