Cognitive Scienceat University of California-Santa Cruz
Graduates earn $35,384/yr in their first year — about 26.0% below the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $735K; scenarios range from $681K to $743K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Santa Cruz
UCSC's Cognitive Science program provides a robust interdisciplinary foundation, blending psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy. The unique Santa Cruz setting, while fostering a vibrant academic environment, isn't a primary tech recruitment hub in the same way as other California universities, which can influence initial salary trajectories. Many graduates leverage their skills in UX research, data analysis, education, or even non-profits, reflecting the breadth of the curriculum rather than a narrow industry pipeline. The program's strength lies in developing critical thinking and research skills, which are highly transferable but may require you to actively seek out specialized applications. To maximize your post-graduation earnings, you should proactively pursue internships and projects directly aligning with specific industry roles, like human-computer interaction or AI ethics, throughout your studies.
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 Santa Cruz'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 Santa Cruz stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Santa Cruz
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Santa Cruz, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at UC Santa Cruz
What does a 50/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Cognitive Science at University of California-Santa Cruz?
At 50/100, University of California-Santa Cruz's Cognitive Science program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is University of California-Santa Cruz a good choice for Cognitive Science despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of California-Santa Cruz's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.