Best institutions to study 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.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 382 Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2701, a specialization of Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27), and leads most directly to the Psychologists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 19-3039).
About Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics program focuses on the scientific study of learning and thinking processes. It is designed for students interested in understanding how information is encoded, processed, and transmitted, as well as the mechanisms behind cognition and communication. This program is a part of the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field, catering to those who are passionate about exploring the intricacies of the human mind.
Students will engage with theories of cognition and intelligence, study cognitive processes such as memory and perception, and explore psycholinguistics. The curriculum emphasizes both biological and social communication mechanisms, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of cognitive psychology.
Credentials awarded
What Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree290 graduates / yr · 12 institutions76%
- Master's degree60 graduates / yr · 7 institutions16%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship23 graduates / yr · 11 institutions6.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.4%
Graduates over time
Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 87 |
| 2013 | 101 |
| 2014 | 95 |
| 2015 | 116 |
| 2016 | 158 |
| 2017 | 167 |
| 2018 | 204 |
| 2019 | 236 |
| 2020 | 250 |
| 2021 | 223 |
| 2022 | 268 |
| 2023 | 288 |
| 2024 | 345 |
| 2025 | 382 |
Top 22 institutions for Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor's | 52 | 83% | — | $34,431 |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 45 | 94% | $14,126 | $37,377 |
| 3 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.DoctoralMaster's | 35 | 83% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 33 | 87% | — | $29,830 |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 30 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 6 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | — | — | — |
| 7 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 27 | 86% | — | $23,420 |
| 8 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 96% | $14,644 | $39,493 |
| 9 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 21 | 84% | $29,789 | $37,906 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 97% | $22,055 | $44,542 |
| 11 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 12 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 92% | $19,292 | $36,283 |
| 13 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 14 | George Fox University Newberg, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 72% | $26,564 | — |
| 15 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 91% | $20,586 | — |
| 16 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 97% | $16,260 | $39,359 |
| 18 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicMaster's | 3 | 62% | — | — |
| 19 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 20 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicDoctoral | 1 | 76% | — | — |
| 21 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicDoctoral | 1 | 82% | — | — |
| 22 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicDoctoral | 1 | 75% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field (CIP 42.27) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 14 states
Where Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics graduates come from. Each state links to all Research and Experimental Psychology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | 113 | University of California - Santa Barbara52 / yr |
| New York | 6 | 51 | Teachers College at Columbia University30 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 45 | Washington University in St Louis45 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 35 | University of Connecticut35 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 30 | Northwestern University30 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 22 | Brown University22 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 21 | George Washington University21 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 15 | University of Pennsylvania15 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 14 | Vanderbilt University14 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 11 | Wellesley College11 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 9 | George Fox University9 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 8 | Emory University8 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 5 | Duke University5 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 3 | Ball State University3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3039, Psychologists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue various careers, including roles as psychologists, managers, or psychology teachers. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 3,900 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $117,580, typically requiring a Master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2701
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychologists, All Otherprimary SOC 19-3039 | $110,840 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~3,900 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1066 | $80,340 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Research and Experimental Psychology specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27).
- Research and Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.279914,082 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.27044,599 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Developmental and Child PsychologyCIP 42.27031,771 graduates / yr63 institutions
- Behavioral NeuroscienceCIP 42.27061,391 graduates / yr32 institutions
- Social PsychologyCIP 42.2707455 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Psychometrics and Quantitative PsychologyCIP 42.2708210 graduates / yr16 institutions
- PsychopharmacologyCIP 42.2709partial data74 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Personality PsychologyCIP 42.2705limited data23 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Comparative PsychologyCIP 42.2702limited data16 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Developmental and Adolescent Psychology42.2710
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, along with postbaccalaureate certificates.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 22 colleges offering the Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics program across the U.S.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.3% and 3,900 annual openings.
What is the median wage for careers in this field?+
The median wage for careers related to Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics is approximately $117,580.
What is the CIP code for Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics?+
Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics is CIP 42.2701 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 382 credentials in the year. That is 1.7% of all Research and Experimental Psychology graduates.
How much do Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Psychologists, All Other occupation, which Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics most directly leads to, pays a median of $110,840 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field report median earnings of $37,377 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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