2026 Best Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Cognitive Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 ranking of the best Cognitive Science graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $22,500. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
Out of the 77 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, George Mason University landed the #2 spot. Set in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. George Mason University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. George Mason University Cognitive Science students take on a median of $23,529 in debt. Get the full George Mason University report
Stony Brook University came in at #3 on this year's Cognitive Science ranking in the United States. Stony Brook University is a public school based in Stony Brook, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Stony Brook University Cognitive Science students take on a median of $20,537 in debt. Get the full Stony Brook University report
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kentucky one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
You'll be in good company at University Of Memphis, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. University Of Memphis posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $26,315. More on University Of Memphis
Cuny Lehman College landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. More on Cuny Lehman College
Haverford College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. More on Haverford College
University Of California San Diego came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of California San Diego report
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Case Western Reserve University placed #10 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
Swarthmore College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Swarthmore College
New York University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on New York University
George Fox University placed #13 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read more about George Fox University
Henderson State University placed #14 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. See the full Henderson State University profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University Of California Merced ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. More on University Of California Merced
University Of Delaware placed #17 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Delaware report
Curry College
Curry College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Get the full Curry College report
Loyola University New Orleans came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Loyola University New Orleans profile
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. More on University Of California Los Angeles
Carleton College
Carleton College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Carleton College report
Pomona College
Pomona College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pomona College report
Rutgers University New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
Duke University
Duke University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Duke University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Tufts University
Tufts University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on Tufts University
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Cognitive Science schools. More on University Of California Santa Cruz
Brown University
Brown University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Brown University
University Of Chicago landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Chicago
Michigan Technological University came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Michigan Technological University
University Of Utah did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full University Of Utah profile
Yale University
Yale University came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Yale University
University Of Iowa did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on University Of Iowa
Lehigh University came in at #34 in this year's ranking. See the full Lehigh University profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University At Buffalo came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full Carnegie Mellon University profile
Vanderbilt University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Vanderbilt University
University Of Richmond did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on University Of Richmond
Occidental College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Occidental College
Marquette University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Marquette University
Millsaps College
Millsaps College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Millsaps College
University Of Georgia came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Georgia
Arizona State University placed #44 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Get the full Arizona State University report
Suny College At Oswego did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on Suny College At Oswego
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Colorado Boulder
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #48 among Cognitive Science schools in the United States. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Pennsylvania report
University Of California Irvine did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on University Of California Irvine
Related Cognitive Science Rankings
See rankings for 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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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