Cognitive Scienceat University of Pennsylvania
Graduates earn $84,314/yr in their first year — about 76.0% above the national Cognitive Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $821K; scenarios range from $757K to $833K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Pennsylvania
Your Cognitive Science degree from Penn carries significant weight due to the university's elite reputation and robust interdisciplinary approach. This program uniquely positions you at the intersection of psychology, computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience, skills highly valued across diverse sectors. The strong outcomes reflect Penn’s exceptional recruiting pipelines into competitive fields like user experience (UX) research, AI ethics, data science, and strategy consulting, where your understanding of human cognition and complex systems is critical. Many graduates find themselves in roles shaping technology design and human-computer interaction, or in advanced research. While some analytical tasks may face automation, your training in critical thinking, experimental design, and human-centric problem-solving provides resilience against AI risk, moving you into leadership and design roles rather than repetitive tasks. To leverage this advantage, actively seek internships that apply your interdisciplinary skills, whether in tech, healthcare, or government.
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 University of Pennsylvania'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 University of Pennsylvania stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Pennsylvania
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pennsylvania, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Cognitive Science at University of Pennsylvania
How does University of Pennsylvania's Cognitive Science program score?
This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Cognitive Science graduates.
Why does University of Pennsylvania rank so high for Cognitive Science?
The #3 ranking out of 19 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
How affordable is Cognitive Science at University of Pennsylvania after financial aid?
Sticker price is $264,416, but the average net cost is $124,916 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.