Columbia vs. Cooper Union

Should I go to Columbia University in the City of New York or Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia or Cooper Union is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Columbia University in the City of New York vs. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art comparison
Columbia University in the City of New York Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art College 3 College 4
Columbia University in the City of New York Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
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Overview

Columbia Cooper Union
Location New York, NY New York, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 34,782 958
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu cooper.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Cooper Union
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $44,550
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $44,550
Room & Board $16,286 $18,226
Avg Net Price $22,058 $26,194
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $39,305
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

Columbia Cooper Union
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 1,500
Admitted 2,404 337
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 22.5%
Enrolled % 64.1% 54.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 31/35
SAT Range 1490/1580 1390/1530
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 1, 2025 Jan 8, 2025

Academics

Columbia Cooper Union
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Engineering (58%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
  • Architecture (11%)

Outcomes

Columbia Cooper Union
Graduation Rate 93% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $64,000
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $16,662
Median Loan Payment $222 $172

Diversity

Columbia Cooper Union
% Men 46% 51%
% Women 54% 49%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 32%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 9%
% International 15% 16%
% Unknown Race 3% 12%

Students

Columbia Cooper Union
% In-State 19% 42%
% Out-of-State 64% 48%

Campus

Columbia Cooper Union
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 958 students)

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Cooper Union?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 40.4% more expensive to attend than Cooper Union for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.4% higher at Columbia than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($62,570.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Cooper Union ($22,058 vs. $26,194)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 11.9% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,286 vs. $18,226)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Columbia University in the City of New York (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 55.4% larger than aid received Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($61,061 vs. $39,305)

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia or Cooper Union? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cooper Union or Columbia .

  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Cooper Union (3.75)
  • Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (22.5%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia 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 Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (93% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $43,600 more per year than Cooper Union graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $64,000)
  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $4,838 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($16,662 vs. $21,500)
  • Cooper Union graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($172 vs. $222)
  • More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/