45 Best colleges for Cognitive Science in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Cognitive Science. A graph of 4.77M citations received by 65.9K academic papers made by 45 universities in Massachusetts was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Cognitive Science

#2 in the United States

#2 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Cognitive Science

#6 in the United States

#7 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Boston University

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#32 in the United States

#35 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Cognitive Science

#51 in the United States

#59 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

5. Tufts University

Medford

For Cognitive Science

#65 in the United States

#78 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

6. Northeastern University

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#73 in the United States

#87 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

7. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Cognitive Science

#81 in the United States

#95 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

8. Boston College

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#102 in the United States

#119 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

9. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#164 in the United States

#191 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

10. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#169 in the United States

#197 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

11. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Cognitive Science

#198 in the United States

#231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

12. Clark University

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#209 in the United States

#242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

13. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#211 in the United States

#244 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

14. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Cognitive Science

#237 in the United States

#271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

15. Williams College

Williamstown

For Cognitive Science

#253 in the United States

#287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

16. William James College

Newton

For Cognitive Science

#264 in the United States

#299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 967
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1974

17. Smith College

Northampton

For Cognitive Science

#281 in the United States

#317 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

18. Amherst College

Amherst

For Cognitive Science

#320 in the United States

#359 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

19. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Cognitive Science

#335 in the United States

#375 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

20. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Cognitive Science

#381 in the United States

#424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

21. Emerson College

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#390 in the United States

#435 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $53,432

22. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#400 in the United States

#445 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

23. Western New England University

Springfield

For Cognitive Science

#419 in the United States

#465 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,056

24. MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#423 in the United States

#469 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,672
Male:Female: 14:86
Founded: 1977

25. Bentley University

Waltham

For Cognitive Science

#436 in the United States

#485 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

26. Fisher College

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#440 in the United States

#490 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $28,596
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $25,379

27. Suffolk University

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#459 in the United States

#509 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

28. Babson College

Wellesley

For Cognitive Science

#472 in the United States

#523 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $32,019

29. Dean College

Franklin

For Cognitive Science

#482 in the United States

#533 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $32,085
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,958

30. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Cognitive Science

#487 in the United States

#538 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 163
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1921

31. Hampshire College

Amherst

For Cognitive Science

#498 in the United States

#549 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $27,895
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $46,145

32. Merrimack College

North Andover

For Cognitive Science

#560 in the United States

#614 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $38,504
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,550

33. Simmons University

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#621 in the United States

#680 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

34. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Cognitive Science

#630 in the United States

#689 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

35. Salem State University

Salem

For Cognitive Science

#640 in the United States

#701 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

36. Gordon College

Wenham

For Cognitive Science

#654 in the United States

#715 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,299

37. Emmanuel College

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#683 in the United States

#744 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1255
Net Price: $31,121
Receiving Aid: 100%

38. Endicott College

Beverly

For Cognitive Science

#684 in the United States

#745 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1267
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,394

39. Westfield State University

Westfield

For Cognitive Science

#710 in the United States

#771 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,054
Enrollment: 4,588

40. Framingham State University

Framingham

For Cognitive Science

#721 in the United States

#783 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1190
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $11,338

41. Springfield College

Springfield

For Cognitive Science

#736 in the United States

#798 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,039

42. Assumption College

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#764 in the United States

#826 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $29,748
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $35,905

43. Worcester State University

Worcester

For Cognitive Science

#766 in the United States

#828 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1155
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,464

44. Lesley University

Cambridge

For Cognitive Science

#767 in the United States

#829 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $32,587
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,167

45. New England College of Optometry

Boston

For Cognitive Science

#774 in the United States

#836 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 515
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1894

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Cognitive Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	5	50
Connecticut	14	10
New Hampshire	5	54
Vermont	3	130
New York	82	8
New Jersey	19	17
Maine	6	254
Pennsylvania	53	7
Maryland	19	12
District of Columbia	8	74
Virginia	21	49
West Virginia	3	106
Ohio	32	26
North Carolina	19	27
Michigan	20	4
South Carolina	11	94
Indiana	16	35
Kentucky	9	71
Tennessee	15	40
Wisconsin	17	23
Georgia	19	38
Illinois	30	9
Alabama	11	115
Iowa	7	34
Missouri	13	20
Florida	28	29
Minnesota	17	31
Mississippi	7	144
Arkansas	7	160
Louisiana	12	93
Kansas	8	66
South Dakota	4	331
North Dakota	3	149
Nebraska	6	109
Oklahoma	8	125
Puerto Rico	6	377
Texas	46	22
Colorado	12	53
New Mexico	4	97
Utah	7	58
Idaho	3	278
Arizona	4	44
Washington	13	11
Oregon	13	55
California	76	1

Psychology subfields in Massachusetts

Child Psychology52

Clinical Psychology45

Education Majors53

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution16

Neuroscience55

Occupational Therapy13

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology11