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# Best Cognitive Science Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Cognitive Science Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-cognitive-science-programs/)

This page ranks the 9 Cognitive Science programs in the West by median earnings of Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) leads the list at $131,650, followed by [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) at $120,193 and [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) at $102,066.

Across the 9 programs, the median is $81,160, with a spread of $80,503 from $131,650 to $51,147.

Of the 9 listed programs, 6 are public and 3 are private nonprofit. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, while University of California-Merced posts the lowest average net price at $11,983.

University of California-Merced has the highest admission rate on the page, admitting 91% of applicants.

## The ranked list

9 schools in list order

| 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](/school/stanford-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $131,650](/school/stanford-university/outcomes/) for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list, alongside an admission rate of 4%. |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $120,193 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) ranks 2nd on this page with [median earnings of $120,193](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/outcomes/) four years after completing, and its Cognitive Science completers who borrowed left with a median of $14,589 in federal loans. |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $102,066 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | A public university in Los Angeles, [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) posts [median earnings of $102,066](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $12,548. |
| 4 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $93,440 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 4th on this list, with its Cognitive Science graduates earning a [median of $93,440](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) four years after completing and carrying a median federal debt of $18,250 among completers who borrowed. |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $81,160 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 27%](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/admissions/), [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) reports median earnings of $81,160 for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 6 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $78,782 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
|  | Occidental College admits 44% of applicants, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $23,000 in federal loans. |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $72,125 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) reports [median earnings of $72,125](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/outcomes/) for its Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $8,717 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 8 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $68,463 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | Its Cognitive Science completers who borrowed left with a [median of $15,000](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) in federal loans, and [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) ranks 8th on this list with median earnings of $68,463 four years after completing. |
| 9 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $51,147 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-merced/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $51,147 for its Cognitive Science graduates 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 the West appear. The metric reports median earnings of Cognitive Science graduates four years after completing for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from $131,650 to $51,147 and the median of $81,160 cover the 9 programs with a published figure. Stanford University leads University of California-Berkeley by $11,457, and the spread from top to bottom is $80,503.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Cognitive Science Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-cognitive-science-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   Interdisciplinary Studies Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Interdisciplinary Studies Colleges in the West