Cognitive Scienceat Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Graduates earn $38,132/yr in their first year — about 20.0% below the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $465K; scenarios range from $443K to $464K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rutgers
Rutgers' Cognitive Science program, while academically robust, presents a common challenge for interdisciplinary undergraduate fields. The relatively broad nature of cognitive science means you'll develop strong analytical and research skills, but these often require further specialization to translate directly into high-paying entry-level roles. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees in areas like AI, UX design, data science, or neuroscience to command higher salaries, or pivot into fields like social services where direct application of cognitive principles is valued differently. The New Jersey labor market, while diverse, demands clear skill sets; a generalist degree often benefits from pairing with practical internships or a minor in a more applied field like computer science or statistics. To maximize your financial outlook, actively seek out industry-specific internships early and consider graduate studies as a primary pathway rather than an afterthought, focusing your undergraduate research on marketable applications.
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 Rutgers'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 Rutgers stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rutgers
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rutgers, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at Rutgers
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Cognitive Science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cognitive Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Can you still earn well with Cognitive Science from Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.