Bard College vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, 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.

Bard College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Bard 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: Bard College 9:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Bard College vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College 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 Bard College ($26,283 vs. $29,320).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 1.2% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($18,852 vs. $19,090).
• Bard College is 41.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $19,616 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.9% higher at Bard College than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $19,616 more per year; $66,436.00 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 Bard College (100% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 42.5% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($55,235 vs. $38,755).

Bard College vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College 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 Bard College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 40 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Bard College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Bard College vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College 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).

• The graduation rate at Bard College is the same as at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (76% vs. 76%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $9,532 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($16,662 vs. $26,194).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($172 vs. $270).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.