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RIT St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse NYU Pratt Institute Stevens UB Columbia Binghamton University Carnegie Mellon Union College| Clarkson University | Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | New York, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 983 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | cooper.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $44,550 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $44,550 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $18,650 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $28,199 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $39,187 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 1,790 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 341 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 19.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 52.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 33/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 1400/1520 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 8, 2026 |
Academics |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 76% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $64,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $16,662 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $172 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 32% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 9% | ||
| % International | 3% | 16% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 12% |
Students |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 39% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | Cooper Union | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clarkson University is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 983 students)
Clarkson vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Cooper Union?
- Clarkson University is 27.1% more expensive to attend than Cooper Union for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $44,550.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.1% higher at Clarkson than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($56,642.00 vs. $44,550.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Clarkson ($28,199 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 9.6% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,016 vs. $18,650)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University as Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 10% larger than aid received Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($43,097 vs. $39,187)
Clarkson vs. Cooper Union Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Cooper Union? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cooper Union or Clarkson .
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Cooper Union (3.75)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Cooper Union (19.1%)
Clarkson vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson or Cooper Union? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cooper Union and Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at Cooper Union is higher than Clarkson University (76% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $6,800 more per year than Cooper Union graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $64,000)
- Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $10,338 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($16,662 vs. $27,000)
- Cooper Union graduates are paying $107 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($172 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/