Cognitive Science at University of California-Berkeley

UC Berkeley's Cognitive Science program punches far above its weight, with graduates earning $64,559 in their first year—more than double both the national and California median for this field. This ranks in the 95th percentile among California's cognitive science programs, second only to Stanford (whose graduates start at $106,000). The roughly $27,000 gap between Berkeley and Stanford narrows considerably when you factor in Berkeley's significantly lower tuition for California residents.

The trajectory here is particularly strong: earnings jump 42% to nearly $92,000 by year four, suggesting graduates are moving into roles where cognitive science skills command premium compensation—likely in tech, UX research, or data science given Berkeley's Silicon Valley proximity. The debt burden of $13,950 is manageable at just 0.22 times first-year earnings, meaning most graduates could pay this off within months of starting work if they chose to be aggressive about it.

Berkeley's highly selective admissions (12% acceptance rate) means getting in is the main hurdle, but for students who do, this program delivers exceptional return on investment. The combination of top-tier earnings, modest debt, and strong growth makes this one of the best cognitive science programs in the country for financial outcomes.