Rice University — Houston, TX

Cognitive Science

at Rice University · Houston, TX

Exceptional Value

Go for it

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $42,585/yr starting out — that's 42% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 4.6 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $13,370/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $57,488 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$79,788/yr

Starting Salary

$42,585

Finish Rate

94.6%

$79,788/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $13,370/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $66,418/yr)

4 Years Total

$319,152

Typical Debt

$11,000

Interest You'd Owe

+$4,008

What You'd Really Pay

$57,488

That's about $125/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$425,850

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$57,488

Pays for Itself In

4.6 yrs

Salary Boost

+42%

Ahead After 10 Years

$368,362

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed21.4/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost5.6/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate14.2/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.