Cognitive Scienceat Stanford University
Graduates earn $105,695/yr in their first year — about 121.0% above the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $850K; scenarios range from $783K to $864K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Stanford University
Stanford's Cognitive Science program benefits immensely from its location in Silicon Valley, which profoundly shapes post-graduation opportunities. The rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum, blending computer science, psychology, and neuroscience, primes graduates for high-demand roles in cutting-edge fields like AI, machine learning, and user experience (UX) research. Major tech companies, innovative startups, and top research institutions actively recruit from Stanford, creating unparalleled career pipelines directly on your doorstep. You'll find alumni driving product strategy at Google, designing intuitive interfaces at Apple, or leading research at cutting-edge AI labs. To truly maximize this advantage, actively engage with the school's robust entrepreneurship ecosystem and seek out internships that apply cognitive principles to real-world tech challenges, ensuring you build a portfolio of practical experience early on.
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 Stanford 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 Stanford University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Stanford University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Stanford University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at Stanford University
What does a 54/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Cognitive Science at Stanford University?
At 54/100, Stanford University's Cognitive Science program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
What do students actually pay for Cognitive Science at Stanford University?
The 81% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $249,936. At a net cost of $48,544, the earnings multiple improves substantially.