Amherst vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA 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.

Amherst College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Amherst College 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: Amherst College 6:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Amherst vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than Cooper Union ($19,049 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 3.7% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($18,390 vs. $19,090).
• Amherst College is 50.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $23,660 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.5% higher at Amherst than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $23,660 more per year; $70,480.00 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 Amherst College (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 77% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($68,591 vs. $38,755).

Amherst vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 140 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Amherst 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: Amherst College 1490/1580; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst 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 Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Amherst vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $3,687 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($12,975 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($134 vs. $172).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.