Best Cognitive Science Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
10
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$121,871
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$44,618
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 96.5% |
PA | +$729,937 | $96,904 | $85,738 | $18,660 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Rice University
Grad rate: 94.7% |
TX | +$577,550 | $86,577 | $74,110 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of California-Berkeley
Grad rate: 93.5% |
CA | +$415,355 | $72,251 | $42,708 | $13,950 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Delaware
Grad rate: 79.2% |
DE | +$209,232 | $60,086 | $29,347 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
CA | +$90,800 | $54,985 | $36,325 | $17,481 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
CA | -$94,082 | $45,502 | $36,643 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Grad rate: 95.3% |
VA | -$130,326 | $44,201 | $38,132 | $16,162 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
University of Georgia
Grad rate: 87.6% |
GA | -$135,586 | $41,771 | $27,436 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of California-Merced
Grad rate: 68.3% |
CA | -$198,182 | $40,928 | $37,098 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
Grad rate: 75.7% |
CA | -$245,981 | $38,747 | $38,649 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Cognitive Science Degrees by State
Browse Cognitive Science programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.