Cooper Union vs. Fordham

Comparable Facts

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

Fordham University is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (16,150 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); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; Fordham University 14:1.

Cooper Union vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Fordham? 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 Fordham ($26,283 vs. $48,190).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 20.8% lower than at Fordham University ($19,090 vs. $24,090).
• Fordham University is 38.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $18,095 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.6% higher at Fordham than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $18,095 more per year; $64,915.00 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 Fordham University (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($38,755 vs. $35,988).

Cooper Union vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is the same as at Fordham (1400).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Fordham (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; Fordham University 1320/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Fordham University 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Fordham (3.67).
• Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Cooper Union vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $9,338 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($16,662 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($172 vs. $268).
• More Fordham 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.