Cognitive Scienceat University of California-Berkeley
Graduates earn $64,559/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $804K; scenarios range from $742K to $816K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Berkeley
Your Cognitive Science degree from UC Berkeley carries significant weight, leveraging the university's unparalleled global reputation and its strategic location within the Bay Area. This isn't just about prestige; it provides direct access to the epicenter of technological innovation, research institutions, and a dynamic startup culture. The program's interdisciplinary rigor, blending psychology, computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience, equips you with highly adaptable analytical and problem-solving skills, making you exceptionally valuable where human cognition meets AI, user experience, and data science. Graduates often secure roles in product management, UX research, or foundational AI development at leading tech firms, or pursue advanced degrees. The moderate AI risk reflects that while some tasks may evolve, your critical thinking and synthesis skills remain in high demand. To truly maximize your potential, actively seek internships that bridge your academic interests with practical industry challenges, leveraging Berkeley's robust professional network.
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 UC Berkeley'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 UC Berkeley stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Berkeley
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Berkeley, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at UC Berkeley
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Cognitive Science at University of California-Berkeley?
This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Cognitive Science nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
What makes University of California-Berkeley's Cognitive Science program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 19 programs nationally, University of California-Berkeley lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.