Best Cognitive Science Programs in California (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 9 Cognitive Science programs in California by median earnings of Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing. Stanford University leads the list with median earnings of $131,650 for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing.
Across the 9 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $131,650 to $51,147, with a median of $81,160.
Public institutions account for 6 of the 9 listed programs and private nonprofits for 3. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of California-Merced posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $11,983.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $131,650 | $13,807 | -$2,536* | 3.6% |
| Stanford University ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $131,650 for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $120,193 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley admits 11% of applicants and its Cognitive Science graduates earn a median of $120,193 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $102,066 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| Median earnings of $102,066 for University of California-Los Angeles's Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing coincide with a median federal debt of $13,000 among Cognitive Science completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 4 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $93,440 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, University of Southern California has an average net price of $32,740 and its Cognitive Science graduates earn a median of $93,440 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $81,160 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $81,160 for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $78,782 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Occidental College left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans, and its Cognitive Science graduates earn a median of $78,782 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $72,125 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz has an admission rate of 66% and its Cognitive Science graduates earn a median of $72,125 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $68,463 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| At University of California-Davis, an average net price of $14,741 sits alongside median earnings of $68,463 for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $51,147 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| University of California-Merced admits 91% of applicants, and its Cognitive Science graduates report median earnings of $51,147 four years after completing. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from Stanford University to the bottom of the list spans $80,503, and the gap between Stanford University and University of California-Berkeley is $11,457.
Related rankings
- Best Cognitive Science Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in California
- Interdisciplinary Studies Colleges in California for Social Mobility
- Interdisciplinary Studies Colleges in California