Tufts University Cognitive Science: earnings, debt & careers

Cognitive Science graduates of Tufts University earn a median $130,801 four years after graduating ($75,672 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $18,000. That is $51,785 above the U.S. median for Cognitive Science graduates ($79,016 across 19 colleges), and ranks 1st of 1 Massachusetts colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$130,801

U.S. median for this major: $79,016.

College Scorecard field of study; 22 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
$75,672

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$18,000

About 14% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $17,490.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$39,998 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $88,300. College Scorecard.

Tufts University Cognitive Science: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Tufts University graduates$130,801

Fewer than 3 Massachusetts colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (19 colleges)$79,016 (+$51,785)

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 Tufts University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$11,284$46,264under 1 year
$30–48k$9,811$40,225under 1 year
$48–75k$14,923$61,184under 1 year
$75–110k$23,311$95,5751.1 years
$110k+$58,570$240,1372.6 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (86% 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 ($130,801) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $90,921 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

Boston area$291,000
Massachusetts$267,290
U.S.$167,220

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Boston area$68,040
Massachusetts$62,930
U.S.$52,100

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 Tufts University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Tufts University

Related majors at Tufts University

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Tufts University Cognitive Science questions

How much do Tufts University Cognitive Science graduates earn?

Cognitive Science graduates of Tufts University earn a median $130,801 four years after graduating and $75,672 one year after. The U.S. median for Cognitive Science graduates across 19 colleges is $79,016.

How much debt do Tufts University Cognitive Science graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Cognitive Science graduates of Tufts University is $18,000, about 14% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $17,490.

Where does Tufts University rank for Cognitive Science in Massachusetts?

Of 1 Massachusetts colleges reporting Cognitive Science graduate earnings, Tufts University ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Cognitive Science graduates get?

A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $291,000 in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 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
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Cite this: “Tufts University Cognitive Science: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/tufts-university/majors/cognitive-science (College Scorecard and BLS data).