Cooper Union vs. Davidson

Comparable Facts

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

Davidson College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,869 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); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Cooper Union vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Davidson? 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 Davidson ($26,283 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 10.4% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,100 vs. $19,090).
• Davidson College is 37.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $17,590 more per year; $64,410.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.6% higher at Davidson than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $17,590 more per year; $64,410.00 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 Davidson College (100% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 33.5% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($51,755 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or Davidson? 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 Davidson and Cooper Union.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 70 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Davidson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Cooper Union).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; Davidson College 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Davidson College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Davidson students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Cooper Union vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and Davidson? 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) 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 $500 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $338 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($16,662 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($172 vs. $175).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.