Cooper Union vs. Drexel

Should I go to Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art or Drexel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cooper Union or Drexel 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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Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art vs. Drexel University comparison
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Drexel University College 3 College 4
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Drexel University
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Overview

Cooper Union Drexel
Location New York, NY Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 983 21,703
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #109
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cooper.edu drexel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cooper Union Drexel
Tuition (In State) $44,550 $58,293
Tuition (Out of State) $44,550 $58,293
Room & Board $18,650 $17,550
Avg Net Price $28,199 $42,342
Avg Grant Aid $39,187 $33,654
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Cooper Union Drexel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,790 40,204
Admitted 341 31,171
Acceptance Rate 19.1% 77.5%
Enrolled % 52.8% 9.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 33/34 27/33
SAT Range 1400/1520 1230/1430
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 8, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Cooper Union Drexel
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (58%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Cooper Union Drexel
Graduation Rate 76% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,000 $77,400
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,662 $26,243
Median Loan Payment $172 $271

Diversity

Cooper Union Drexel
% Men 6% 14%
% Women 2% 23%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 32% 54%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 9% 3%
% International 16% 13%
% Unknown Race 12% 2%

Students

Cooper Union Drexel
% In-State 51% 48%
% Out-of-State 39% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Drexel University is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (21,703 students vs. 983 students)

Cooper Union vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Drexel?

  • Drexel University is 30.8% more expensive to attend than Cooper Union for in-state tuition ($58,293.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at Drexel than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($58,293.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Drexel ($28,199 vs. $42,342)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 6.3% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,550 vs. $18,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Drexel University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 16.4% larger than aid received Drexel University ($39,187 vs. $33,654)

Cooper Union vs. Drexel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Drexel (3.67)
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (77.5%) than Cooper Union (19.1%)

Cooper Union vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cooper Union or Drexel? 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 Drexel and Cooper Union.

  • The graduation rate at Cooper Union is higher than Drexel University (76% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn on average $13,400 more per year than Cooper Union graduates after ten years. ($77,400 vs. $64,000)
  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $9,581 lower median federal student loan debt than Drexel graduates. ($16,662 vs. $26,243)
  • Cooper Union graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than Drexel graduates. ($172 vs. $271)
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 75%)

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