Cognitive Science graduates from Tufts University earn $130,801 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $18,000.
Cognitive Science at Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Cognitive Science at Tufts University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Tufts University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Cognitive Science at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 39 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Tufts University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $130,801 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $74,993 across all institutions offering Cognitive Science, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Tufts University, the mean median-earnings figure is $86,224, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Cognitive Science graduates at Tufts University is $18,000, which translates to roughly $150 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Cognitive Science at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | $162,106 | — |
| Stanford University | $131,650 | $7,500 |
| Tufts University (this school) | $130,801 | $18,000 |
| University of California-Berkeley | $120,193 | $14,589 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $109,784 | $18,820 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $102,066 | $13,000 |
| University of Southern California | $93,440 | $18,250 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | $83,554 | $15,625 |
| University of California-San Diego | $81,160 | $17,427 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $79,016 | $22,000 |
Other Programs at Tufts University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | $296,331 | $244,730 |
| Dentistry | $175,048 | $368,587 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $162,502 | $33,270 |
| Computer Science | $156,343 | $15,500 |
| Veterinary Medicine | $145,237 | $206,815 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $139,106 | $131,618 |
| International Business | $137,230 | — |
| Cognitive Science (current) | $130,801 | $18,000 |
| Economics | $123,809 | $17,850 |
| Mathematics | $110,512 | $17,750 |
Other Schools with Cognitive Science
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.