Cognitive Science: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 30.25. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 129 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 3 | 2 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 72 | 2,955 | $48,492 | $81,496 | $15,178 20 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 23 | 82 | Data unavailable | $71,800 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 18 | 70 | $63,178 | $118,884 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 12 | 12 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University CA · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $105,925 | $131,650 | $8,420 |
| University of Pennsylvania PA · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $100,507 | $109,784 | $15,480 |
| Tufts University MA · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $92,588 | $130,801 | $18,250 |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $67,607 | $93,440 | $12,000 |
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 155 graduates measured | $62,757 | $120,193 | $13,200 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public · 19 graduates measured | $61,541 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Vassar College NY · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $60,408 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 101 graduates measured | $57,761 | $79,016 | $21,000 |
| Yale University CT · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $57,389 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · 163 graduates measured | $54,235 | $102,066 | $13,000 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston MA · Public · 19 graduates measured | $52,547 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · 90 graduates measured | $46,811 | $83,554 | $15,000 |
| University of California-San Diego CA · Public · 633 graduates measured | $46,650 | $81,160 | $14,456 |
| Marquette University WI · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $45,190 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public · 47 graduates measured | $44,592 | Data unavailable | $20,695 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Cognitive Science
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Community and social service specialists, all other | $56,730 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Directors, religious activities and education | $52,100 | +3.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Religious workers, all other | $45,280 | +1.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $77,640 | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Self-enrichment teachers | $46,800 | +3.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (3)
- 30.2501 Cognitive Science, General
- 30.2502 Contemplative Studies/Inquiry
- 30.2599 Cognitive Science, Other