Cognitive Science, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Debt to Income Ratio
Why Cognitive Science, Other. stands out: With a debt-to-income ratio of just 46.1%, graduates of this program typically enjoy manageable student loan payments compared to their first-year earnings. This low ratio means that, on average, students who complete Cognitive Science, Other. can expect to pay off their student debt faster and with less financial stress than most other fields. Programs with a DTI below 0.5 are considered excellent by financial experts, making this degree a smart investment for your future.
For example, with a median salary of $39216 and average student debt of $18092, the financial outlook for Cognitive Science, Other. graduates is especially strong in .
Key Insights
Cognitive Science, Other. is a program that attracts motivated students who want to make an impact. Starting pay for new grads is typically $39216, and with an average debt of $18092, the debt-to-income ratio comes in at 0.46—meaning you’ll have lots of flexibility after graduation.
This program sees about 2959 graduates annually, so you’ll be joining a well-established network. Whether you’re aiming for a high-paying job, a stable career, or a chance to make an impact, Cognitive Science, Other. is a great foundation. Remember, your journey is shaped by the opportunities you pursue—so get involved and stay curious!
Degree Overview
Cognitive Science, Other (CIP 30.2599) is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how the mind works—how humans think, learn, remember, perceive, decide, and communicate. It brings together insights from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines to study cognition as a complex system. Rather than focusing on a single perspective, cognitive science treats the mind as something that can be modeled, tested, simulated, and analyzed from multiple angles at once.
For a degree search site, Cognitive Science is especially appealing to students who are fascinated by intelligence—both human and artificial. It is ideal for those who want to understand how thoughts emerge from brains, how language and perception work, how decisions are made, and how machines can replicate or augment human cognition. This field sits at the intersection of mind, brain, and computation, making it highly relevant to careers in technology, research, healthcare, design, artificial intelligence, and graduate study.
What Is a Cognitive Science Degree?
A Cognitive Science degree is an interdisciplinary program that studies mental processes using scientific, computational, and philosophical tools. Programs classified as “Other” under this CIP code often reflect customized or nontraditional cognitive science curricula, allowing institutions to combine disciplines in unique ways or emphasize emerging areas like human–AI interaction or applied cognition.
Students explore questions such as:
- How does the brain create conscious experience?
- How do humans acquire language and meaning?
- How do perception and attention shape reality?
- Can intelligence be replicated in machines?
- What limits exist on memory, reasoning, and decision-making?
Universities offer cognitive science programs to:
- Train students to think across psychology, neuroscience, and computation
- Prepare graduates for research and innovation in mind-related fields
- Support careers in AI, UX, data analysis, and human-centered design
- Provide strong preparation for graduate or professional school
What Will You Learn?
Students learn how cognition can be studied, measured, and modeled. You’ll examine mental processes at multiple levels—from neurons and brain systems to behavior, language, and abstract reasoning. The emphasis is on understanding cognition as an integrated system rather than isolated skills.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Graduates typically develop skills such as:
- Cognitive modeling—representing mental processes using formal or computational models
- Experimental design—testing hypotheses about perception, memory, or decision-making
- Data analysis—working with behavioral, cognitive, or neural data
- Interdisciplinary reasoning—integrating insights from multiple scientific fields
- Critical thinking—evaluating competing theories of the mind
- Programming or computational thinking—often used for modeling or data analysis
- Scientific communication—explaining complex cognitive concepts clearly
- Human-centered problem-solving—applying cognitive principles to real-world design
These skills are valuable in both research and applied technology roles.
Topics You May Explore
Coursework varies widely, but common topics include:
- Cognitive Psychology: attention, memory, learning, and problem-solving
- Neuroscience: brain structures and neural mechanisms of cognition
- Perception and Sensation: how the brain interprets sensory information
- Language and Linguistics: syntax, semantics, and language processing
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: modeling intelligence in machines
- Philosophy of Mind: consciousness, knowledge, and mental representation
- Decision-Making and Judgment: reasoning, bias, and choice behavior
- Human–Computer Interaction (HCI): designing systems around human cognition
- Computational Modeling: simulating cognitive processes with code
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science prepares students for entry-level roles in research, technology, and analysis, as well as advanced study. Career outcomes depend heavily on chosen electives and technical skills.
Common career paths include:
- User Experience (UX) Researcher or Assistant: studying how people interact with technology
- Research Assistant: supporting cognitive, neuroscience, or AI research
- Data or Behavioral Analyst: analyzing human behavior and decision patterns
- AI or Machine Learning Support Roles: contributing to intelligent system development
- Human Factors or Ergonomics Specialist: improving system usability and safety
- Product or Design Analyst: applying cognitive insights to product development
- Graduate or Professional School Path: preparing for neuroscience, psychology, AI, or philosophy programs
With graduate education, careers can expand into AI research, cognitive neuroscience, academia, or advanced design roles.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates work in organizations that focus on intelligence, behavior, and human-centered systems:
- Technology and software companies
- Artificial intelligence and data science firms
- Universities and research laboratories
- Healthcare and neuroscience research centers
- Human–computer interaction and design firms
- Government or defense research agencies
- Consulting and innovation teams
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings vary widely depending on technical skill level, industry, and education.
Typical ranges include:
- Entry-level research or UX roles: often $50,000–$70,000
- Data, UX, or human factors roles: commonly $70,000–$110,000
- AI- or tech-focused roles: often $90,000–$140,000+
- Advanced-degree professionals: can earn significantly more in research or industry leadership
Strong programming, statistics, or AI skills greatly increase earning potential.
Is This Degree Hard?
Cognitive Science is considered moderately to highly challenging due to its interdisciplinary nature. Students must be comfortable switching between psychology, biology, computation, and abstract theory. The difficulty often depends on how technical the program is, especially in neuroscience or programming-heavy tracks.
For students who enjoy intellectual variety and big-picture thinking, the challenge is often stimulating rather than overwhelming.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a strong fit if you:
- Are fascinated by how the mind works
- Enjoy combining science, technology, and philosophy
- Are interested in AI, UX, neuroscience, or research
- Like asking deep questions about intelligence and consciousness
- Want a flexible degree that connects to many future careers
How to Prepare in High School
To prepare for a cognitive science program:
- Take psychology and biology to understand behavior and the brain
- Build math and statistics skills
- Learn basic programming or computer science if available
- Practice critical reading and analytical writing
- Explore topics in AI, neuroscience, or philosophy of mind
Cognitive Science, Other (CIP 30.2599) is a forward-looking degree for students who want to understand intelligence itself. It prepares graduates to study, model, and design systems around how humans think—making it one of the most flexible and future-relevant interdisciplinary fields available.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
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