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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Cognitive Science Schools in California

9 Colleges in the United States
1,780 Cognitive Science Degrees Awarded
$52,447 Avg Early-Career Salary

Cognitive Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for cognitive science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Cognitive Science in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the cognitive science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Cognitive Science

1

Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in cognitive science. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 217 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $64,559 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,950 in student loans. Get the full cognitive science details for University Of California Berkeley

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cognitive science, ranking #2. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 106 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $105,695. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $8,055 in student loans. See the full cognitive science program report for Stanford University

3

University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cognitive science, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 271 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $53,962. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree. See the full cognitive science program report for University Of California Los Angeles

4

University Of California Davis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cognitive science, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 163 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $42,342 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. See the full cognitive science program report for University Of California Davis

5

University Of California San Diego came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 708 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the cognitive science program make about $39,839 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,481. See the full cognitive science program report for University Of California San Diego

6
Pomona College crest
Pomona College
Claremont, CA

Pomona College earned the #6 position for cognitive science this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Pomona College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Pomona College earn around $75,954 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in cognitive science from Pomona College

7
Occidental College crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science schools. Occidental College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at Occidental College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cognitive science degree from Occidental College earn around $41,514 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,967. Get the full cognitive science details for Occidental College

8

University Of California Irvine landed the #8 spot for cognitive science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 38 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree. Read more about the cognitive science program at University Of California Irvine

9

University Of Southern California earned the #9 position for cognitive science this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 cognitive science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $34,295. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $19,669 in student loans. See the full cognitive science program report for University Of Southern California

10

University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #10 for cognitive science this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 142 cognitive science degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $35,384. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Get the full cognitive science details for University Of California Santa Cruz

11

University Of California Merced ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best cognitive science schools. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Merced awarded about 45 cognitive science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cognitive science degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $32,419. University Of California Merced graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in cognitive science from University Of California Merced

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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