Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $34,295 place University of Southern California below the $47,910 national median for Cognitive Science — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The financial case is thin at 1.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Cognitive Science's typical career paths, with 22% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $18,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $34,295 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #17 of 19 Cognitive Science programs, University of Southern California falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.