by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Cognitive Psychology & Psycholinguistics involves the study of Cognitive Psychology And Psycholinguistics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Mechanisms And Processes Of Learning And Thinking, And Associated Information Encoding, Decoding, Processing And Transmitting Systems. Includes Instruction In Theories Of Cognition And Intelligence; Studies Of Cognitive Processes Such As Memory, Sensation, Perception, Pattern Recognition, Problem Solving, And Conceptual Thinking; Cybernetics; Psycholinguistics; And The Study Of Biological And Social Communications Mechanisms And Processes. Read on to learn the essential details every cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics programs.
Nationwide, cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics is a widely-pursued major, with 380 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cognitive Psychology & Psycholinguistics Schools ranking analyzes these 19 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics programs later in this article.
Coursework for Cognitive Psychology & Psycholinguistics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 279 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 72 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 29 |
People currently working in careers related to cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
With 19 different cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics school rankings to help you.
Those considering cognitive psychology & psycholinguistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
