College of the Atlantic vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME 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.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (933 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• College of the Atlantic 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: College of the Atlantic 9:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

College of the Atlantic vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic 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 College of the Atlantic than Cooper Union ($21,829 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 45.5% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($10,404 vs. $19,090).
• College of the Atlantic is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $1,177 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at College of the Atlantic than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $1,177 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of the Atlantic as at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 6.4% larger than aid received by College of the Atlantic students ($38,755 vs. $36,437).

College of the Atlantic vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Atlantic 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 College of the Atlantic.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 60 points higher than at College of the Atlantic (1340).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Atlantic 1240/1430; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Atlantic - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at College of the Atlantic (3.69).
• College of the Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.4% at College of the Atlantic vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

College of the Atlantic vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Atlantic 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 Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than College of the Atlantic's (71%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $35,800 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $3,088 lower median loan debt than College of the Atlantic graduates ($16,662 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Atlantic graduates ($172 vs. $204).
• More College of the Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.