AU vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC 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.

American University is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• American University 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: American University 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

AU vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than AU ($26,283 vs. $39,676).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 5.8% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,982 vs. $19,090).
• American University is 25.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $11,951 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at AU than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $11,951 more per year; $58,771.00 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 American University (100% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 6.6% larger than aid received by American University students ($38,755 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU 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 AU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 30 points higher than at AU (1370).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at AU (3.7).
• AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

AU vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU 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).

• American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from American University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 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 $7,588 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($16,662 vs. $24,250).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($172 vs. $250).
• More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.