Cognitive Scienceat Johns Hopkins University
Graduates earn $42,602/yr in their first year — about 11.0% below the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $491K; scenarios range from $466K to $490K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins' Cognitive Science program, while housed within an elite research institution, shows earnings below the national average for the field. This isn't necessarily a reflection on the program's quality, but rather its diverse outcomes and the nature of the discipline. Many graduates leverage JHU's strong research environment to pursue advanced degrees in neuroscience, AI, or clinical psychology, deferring immediate high earnings.
The interdisciplinary curriculum often prepares students for roles in research, academia, or non-profit sectors, where starting salaries can be modest, even if long-term growth is significant (as seen with "Natural sciences managers"). You'll find graduates working in JHU's own research labs, local government agencies like NIH, or in UX research and data analysis roles at tech firms. The moderate AI risk suggests adaptability, but focusing your studies on computational or data-heavy aspects of cognitive science, and pursuing relevant internships, will be crucial if maximizing your earning potential is a priority.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Johns Hopkins University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Cognitive Science
How Johns Hopkins University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Johns Hopkins University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Johns Hopkins University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cognitive Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Johns Hopkins University a hidden gem for Cognitive Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $72,644 over four years — 71% below the $253,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.