How much do Cognitive Science bachelor's degree graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn?

The reported median is $162,106 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

Federal debt is not reported for this cohort.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 99% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Cognitive Science bachelor's degree at Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$80,610 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: Not available
Highest price with a positive payoff: $247,765 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +280% · Strong payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$991,060

$20,000Annual price+$911,060

$32,000Current college-wide context+$863,060

$40,000Annual price+$831,060

$60,000Annual price+$751,060

$80,000Annual price+$671,060

$100,000Annual price+$591,060

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5Not available → Not available

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

Not availableBorrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

15Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

Not reportedFederal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$162,106$127,298 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$31,944

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$162,106

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$31,944Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$83,654Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE11.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE94.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

Not availableYear 1

$162,106Year 4

Not availableYear 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$13,509

Estimated loan paymentNot available

Not availableborrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$162,106 vs. $81,496

$80,610 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$65,400 median wagePA estimate · 12,100 jobs · 25-1199$35,770–$104,910 middle 50% of PA wages+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeNatural Sciences Managers$137,900 median wagePA estimate · 7,980 jobs · 11-9121$83,960–$219,230 middle 50% of PA wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDirectors, Religious Activities and Education$55,510 median wagePA estimate · 1,210 jobs · 21-2021$44,700–$71,320 middle 50% of PA wages+3.3% projected U.S. growth · 13,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunity and Social Service Specialists, All Other$54,770 median wagePA estimate · 2,040 jobs · 21-1099$51,480–$66,090 middle 50% of PA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 11,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSelf-Enrichment Teachers$41,740 median wagePA estimate · 15,270 jobs · 25-3021$32,500–$54,060 middle 50% of PA wages+3.5% projected U.S. growth · 50,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentReligious Workers, All Other$34,580 median wagePA estimate · 940 jobs · 21-2099$21,780–$45,990 middle 50% of PA wages+1.5% projected U.S. growth · 12,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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