Columbia vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Cooper Union? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Cooper Union ($22,520 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 7.9% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,580 vs. $19,090).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 53.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $25,025 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.4% higher at Columbia than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $25,025 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at Columbia University in the City of New York (100% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 72.9% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($67,010 vs. $38,755).

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Cooper Union? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cooper Union and Columbia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 150 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Columbia students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Cooper Union).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia and Cooper Union? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $43,600 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $4,838 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($16,662 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($172 vs. $222).
• More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.