Cognitive Science at University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 54 graduates a year
University of California-Merced graduates in cognitive science earn 37% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 39% of one year’s pay at that point.
How University of California-Merced Compares for Cognitive Science
All 19 colleges reporting cognitive science earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $162,106 | $164,863 | #1 | — |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $131,650 | $119,793 | #2 | $105,695 |
| 3 | Tufts University Medford, MA | $130,801 | $115,184 | #3 | $75,672 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $120,193 | $109,368 | #5 | $64,559 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $109,784 | $111,651 | #4 | $84,314 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $102,066 | $92,873 | #6 | $53,962 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $93,440 | $85,024 | #7 | $34,295 |
| 8 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | $83,554 | $76,084 | #9 | $27,628 |
| 9 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | $81,160 | $73,850 | #10 | $39,839 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | $79,016 | $83,313 | #8 | $44,698 |
| … | |||||
| 16 | Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO | $67,212 | $72,065 | #12 | $30,996 |
| 17 | Rice University Houston, TX | $66,913 | $68,031 | #15 | $47,459 |
| 18 | University of Delaware Newark, DE | $66,716 | $66,316 | #16 | — |
| 19 | University of California-Merced Merced, CA | $51,147 | $46,540 | #19 | $32,419 |
Other Majors at University of California-Merced by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $102,575 | $58,835 | #110 of 189 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,040 | $67,096 | #89 of 318 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $88,795 | $57,223 | #82 of 118 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $83,007 | $47,028 | #19 of 46 |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,156 | $39,138 | #29 of 45 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,277 | $46,378 | #424 of 1176 |
| Economics | $67,692 | $51,212 | #297 of 368 |
| Political Science and Government | $62,815 | $29,153 | #265 of 565 |
| Biology | $59,249 | $36,140 | #362 of 841 |
| English Language and Literature | $58,623 | $29,152 | #73 of 576 |
| Chemistry | $56,888 | $50,944 | #180 of 209 |
| Public Health | $56,393 | $36,555 | #115 of 215 |
| Psychology | $53,143 | $28,669 | #346 of 1027 |
| Sociology | $50,468 | $37,092 | #278 of 462 |
| History | $44,144 | $26,103 | #390 of 459 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do University of California-Merced cognitive science graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $32,419 one year after graduating and $51,147 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does University of California-Merced rank for cognitive science?
Among 19 colleges reporting earnings for cognitive science graduates, University of California-Merced ranks #19 by median pay four years after graduation, and #19 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is cognitive science at University of California-Merced worth it?
Its graduates earn 37% less than the national median for cognitive science ($81,496), and the median federal debt at graduation is $20,105.
← All data for University of California-Merced · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.