2026 Best Value Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Cognitive Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 77 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Stony Brook University, our #1 best-value Cognitive Science school in the United States. Set in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $20,537. Stony Brook University alumni report median earnings of $74,502 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Out of the 77 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of California San Diego landed the #2 spot. Located in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $17,481. University Of California San Diego alumni report median earnings of $84,943 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,481 median debt. About 27% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of California San Diego profile
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on this year's best-value Cognitive Science ranking in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,396. The median Cognitive Science program debt is $13,516. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $143,372 a decade after entry. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Out of the 77 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Indiana University Bloomington landed the #4 spot. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete their Cognitive Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,742 ten years after entry. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants. More on Indiana University Bloomington
You'll get strong value at New York University, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Median earnings reach $82,509 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on New York University
University Of California Irvine ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Set in Irvine, CA, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $16,539. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $80,735. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. University Of California Irvine has an acceptance rate of 29%. More on University Of California Irvine
University Of Colorado Boulder offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school based in Boulder, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical Cognitive Science student debt is $20,373. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $69,738. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder has an acceptance rate of 78%. See the full University Of Colorado Boulder profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Cognitive Science students take on a median of $24,975 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,051 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 64% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute profile
Vanderbilt University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Vanderbilt University Cognitive Science students take on a median of $13,975 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $91,565 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Vanderbilt University
Johns Hopkins University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $87,555. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted. More on Johns Hopkins University
University Of Georgia landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Georgia profile
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. See the full The University Of Texas At Dallas profile
University Of California Merced came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of California Merced
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
Cornell University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Cornell University
University At Buffalo placed #16 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read more about University At Buffalo
Scripps College
Scripps College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Scripps College
Swarthmore College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Swarthmore College
Brown University
Brown University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Brown University
Tufts University
Tufts University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Tufts University
Pomona College
Pomona College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Pomona College
California State University Fresno offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on California State University Fresno
Duke University
Duke University placed #23 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Duke University
Cuny Lehman College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Cuny Lehman College profile
Dartmouth College placed #25 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. See the full Dartmouth College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Cognitive Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
Washington University In St Louis offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
George Mason University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on George Mason University
Millsaps College
Millsaps College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Millsaps College
Suny College At Oswego offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Suny College At Oswego profile
Northwestern University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northwestern University
United States Military Academy ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. See the full United States Military Academy profile
Pitzer College
Pitzer College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Read more about Pitzer College
Arizona State University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Arizona State University report
University Of Evansville landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Evansville profile
University Of Southern California landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Hampshire College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Get the full Hampshire College report
Barnard College
Barnard College placed #39 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Barnard College
University Of Chicago placed #40 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Chicago
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
University Of Delaware came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
University Of Kentucky came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Beloit College
Beloit College placed #44 among the best-value Cognitive Science schools in the United States. Read more about Beloit College
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Loyola University New Orleans
George Fox University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Get the full George Fox University report
University Of California Los Angeles offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Richmond landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Richmond profile
University Of Iowa ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. See the full University Of Iowa profile
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Cognitive Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
Related Cognitive Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Cognitive Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Cognitive Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Cognitive Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Cognitive Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Cognitive Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Cognitive Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Cognitive Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · 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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