Cognitive Science: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
+$74,067 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Carnegie Mellon University$162,1062Stanford University$131,6503Tufts University$130,8014University of California, Berkeley$120,1935University of Pennsylvania$109,7846University of California, Los Angeles$102,0667University of Southern California$93,4408University of Virginia-Main Campus$83,5549University of California, San Diego$81,16010University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$79,016Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $162,106 | Not available | +280% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $131,650 | $8,055 | +268% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Tufts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Medford, MA | $130,801 | $18,000 | +152% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $120,193 | $13,950 | +221% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $109,784 | $18,660 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $102,066 | $13,000 | +148% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $93,440 | $19,669 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $83,554 | $16,162 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $81,160 | $17,481 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,016 | $22,500 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Occidental CollegeBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $78,782 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | State University of New York at OswegoBachelor's Degree | Oswego, NY | $76,118 | Not available | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $72,125 | $19,500 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $69,169 | $15,750 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $68,463 | $15,000 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Washington University in St LouisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis, MO | $67,212 | $17,500 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $66,913 | $13,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $66,716 | $26,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of California, MercedBachelor's Degree | Merced, CA | $51,147 | $21,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | Not available | $25,018 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,406 |
| 21 | Case Western Reserve UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, OH | Not available | $25,417 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $41,190 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.