Barnard vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College 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.

Barnard College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Barnard College 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).
• Barnard 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: Barnard College 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Barnard vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard ($26,283 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 12.1% lower than at Barnard College ($19,090 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 49.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $23,068 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.3% higher at Barnard than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $23,068 more per year; $69,888.00 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 Barnard College (100% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 62.9% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($63,131 vs. $38,755).

Barnard vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 120 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Barnard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Cooper Union).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Barnard (8.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Barnard vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

• Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 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 $1,185 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($16,662 vs. $17,847).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($172 vs. $184).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.