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MIT's cognitive science program costs students just $19,813 annually after aid, making it one of the most affordable options despite a sticker price exceeding $60,000. This creates an unusual situation where the world's top technology institute sits between UMass Boston at $18,282 and Hampshire College at $25,810 in net costs. Massachusetts leads cognitive science research through partnerships with biotech companies along Route 128, where graduates apply computational thinking to drug discovery and medical device development.
5
Programs
$18,282 – $35,435
Net Price Range
$38,289
Avg. Program Earnings
73.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

5 Cognitive Science Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $18,282 $15,496 51.1% 80.8%
2 $19,813 $60,156 96.1% 4.0%
3 $25,810 $56,630 57.2% 68.9%
4 $27,313 $45,538 71.2% 76.5%
5 $35,435 $67,844 93.3% 9.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

How does MIT's cognitive science program cost less than many private colleges?

MIT's generous financial aid reduces the net price to $19,813 for the average student, despite charging $60,156 in tuition and fees. The institute meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, making it more affordable than Hampshire College at $25,810 or Simmons University at $27,313.

What explains the 45-point graduation rate gap between top and bottom programs?

MIT graduates 96.1% of cognitive science students compared to UMass Boston's 51.1% rate, reflecting different student populations and support systems. Tufts follows closely at 93.3%, while Hampshire College and Simmons fall between 57.2% and 71.2%.

Where do cognitive science graduates typically work in Massachusetts?

The biotech corridor around Cambridge and Boston employs many graduates in research roles, with average earnings ranging from $37,208 to $39,369. Companies like Biogen, Moderna, and numerous startups value cognitive science backgrounds for user experience research and computational neuroscience applications.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.