Colorado College vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO 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.

Colorado College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,056 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, CO (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Colorado 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: Colorado College 9:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Colorado College vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado 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 Colorado College ($26,283 vs. $36,123).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 16.1% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,020 vs. $19,090).
• Colorado College is 51.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $23,914 more per year; $70,734.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.1% higher at Colorado College than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $23,914 more per year; $70,734.00 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 Colorado College (100% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 31.2% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($50,834 vs. $38,755).

Colorado College vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 50 points higher than at Colorado College (1350).
• Incoming Colorado College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Cooper Union (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado College 1230/1460; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado College 29/33; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colorado College - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colorado College Jan 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Colorado College (18.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.3% at Colorado College vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Colorado College vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colorado 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).

• Colorado College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Colorado College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $3,838 lower median loan debt than Colorado College graduates ($16,662 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado College graduates ($172 vs. $211).
• More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.