U.S. median for this major: $79,016.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 19% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $17,490.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $79,788. College Scorecard.
Rice University Cognitive Science: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Texas colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cognitive Science nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Rice University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $5,827 | $23,774 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $563 | $2,297 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $3,217 | $13,125 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $17,755 | $72,440 | 2.2 years |
| $110k+ | $48,466 | $197,741 | 5.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (89% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Cognitive Science graduates 4 years after graduating ($66,913) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $33,397 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Cognitive Science graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Rice University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Rice University
- Acceptance rate: 8% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 95% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $89,718
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Rice University Cognitive Science questions
How much do Rice University Cognitive Science graduates earn?
Cognitive Science graduates of Rice University earn a median $66,913 four years after graduating and $47,459 one year after. The U.S. median for Cognitive Science graduates across 19 colleges is $79,016.
How much debt do Rice University Cognitive Science graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Cognitive Science graduates of Rice University is $13,000, about 19% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $17,490.
Where does Rice University rank for Cognitive Science in Texas?
Of 1 Texas colleges reporting Cognitive Science graduate earnings, Rice University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Cognitive Science graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $132,860 in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area and $167,220 nationally. Others include directors, religious activities and education.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Rice University Cognitive Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rice-university/majors/cognitive-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).