Best colleges for Cognitive Science in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Stanford University, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Los Angeles are the top bachelor's Cognitive Science programs in California by graduate earnings. Stanford University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $105,695, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-Berkeley award the most Cognitive Science degrees in California: 856, 307 and 280 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 California colleges offer Cognitive Science and award 2,187 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field that explores the nature of human thought, behavior, and understanding through various lenses, including psychology, sociology, and computer science. This program is designed for students…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $105,695 | 121 | 92% | $12,032 | $8,055 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,559 | 280 | 93% | — | $13,950 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,962 | 307 | 93% | — | $13,000 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,342 | 194 | 86% | — | $15,000 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,839 | 856 | 86% | — | $17,481 |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,384 | 181 | 75% | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,295 | 89 | 92% | $26,873 | $19,669 |
| 8 | University of California-Merced Merced Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,419 | 66 | 69% | — | $21,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Cognitive Science degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 856 | $39,839 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 307 | $53,962 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 280 | $64,559 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 194 | $42,342 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 181 | $35,384 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 121 | $105,695 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 89 | $34,295 |
| 8 | University of California-Merced Merced Public | 66 | $32,419 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 40 | Not reported |
| 10 | Occidental College Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 California colleges offering Cognitive Science
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomona College | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Pitzer College | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Scripps College | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| California State University - Fresno | Fresno | Public | 5 |
| California State University - Stanislaus | Turlock | Public | 3 |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Self-Enrichment Teachers (SOC 25-3021).
Top skills
What Self-Enrichment Teachers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cognitive Science programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Cognitive Science degrees?+
University of California-San Diego (856 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (307 graduates a year) and University of California-Berkeley (280 graduates a year) award the most Cognitive Science degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 California colleges offer Cognitive Science.
What is the best college for Cognitive Science in California?+
By graduate earnings, Stanford University leads among bachelor's Cognitive Science programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $105,695, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Los Angeles follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 856 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cognitive Science program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Stanford University tops the list at $105,695. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Self-Enrichment Teachers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers in California is $61,550 (median $49,570), across about 60,260 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Cognitive Science program?+
Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field that explores the nature of human thought, behavior, and understanding through various lenses, including psychology, sociology, and computer science. This program is designed for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Self-Enrichment Teachers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 51,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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