About The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 842 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Excellent
90/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes90
Value95
Affordability59
Selectivity93
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 20.7%, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
20.7%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1295 – 1501
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,269 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,269
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$46,820
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,090
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,910
Books & Supplies
$1,800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,276
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,616
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,190
Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,749
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,904
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,457
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,682
Over $110,000
$25,870
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,90010%percentile
$5,00025%percentile
$15,000Medianpercentile
$23,00075%percentile
$26,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,375
↓ $2,625
No Pell $13,367
↓ $1,633
Female students $12,975
↓ $2,025
Male students $12,000
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($15,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of $83,847 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$83,847
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$58,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$76,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,400, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
3.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is home to 842 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
842
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Asian 31.2%263
White 27.3%230
Hispanic 12.7%107
International 10.9%92
Other 7.4%62
Black 6.4%54
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNew York, New York
Housing
Partly residential170 beds available
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers
a varied set of programs:
12 distinct programs across
4 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$832M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$124,026
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
26
46%
$144,294
Associate Professors
10
18%
$118,950
Assistant Professors
21
37%
$101,350
Pros & Cons of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art hard to get into?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 20.7%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art has an acceptance rate of 20.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art scored between 1295 and 1501 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art scored between 28 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art cost?
The average net price after aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is $13,269 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $83,847 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,269 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art known for?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is best known for its programs in Fine Arts, Architecture, General, Civil Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are $83,847, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art accredited?
Yes. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art enrolls 842 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art a public or private college?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art located?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is located in New York, New York.
What programs does The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offer?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers 12 distinct programs. The most popular include Fine Arts, Architecture, General, Civil Engineering.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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