BC vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, 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.

Boston College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Boston 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: Boston College 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

BC vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 BC ($26,283 vs. $32,519).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 0.9% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($18,916 vs. $19,090).
• Boston College is 51% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $23,882 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51% higher at BC than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $23,882 more per year; $70,702.00 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 Boston College (100% vs. 40%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 47% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($56,971 vs. $38,755).

BC vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 90 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming BC 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: Boston College 1440/1540; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than BC (16.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

BC vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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).

• Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $26,900 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 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 $2,338 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($16,662 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($172 vs. $196).
• More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.