Cooper Union vs. City College of New York

Comparable Facts

Compare The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, NY with CUNY City College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Cooper Union vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College than Cooper Union ($4,664 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 1.3% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($18,840 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 537.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $39,480 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 206.2% higher at Cooper Union than at CUNY City College (about $31,530 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at CUNY City College (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 297% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($38,755 vs. $9,763).

Cooper Union vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and Cooper Union.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 150 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Cooper Union vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $5,262 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($11,400 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($117 vs. $172).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 52%)

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.