Cooper Union vs. Mason

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

 Cooper Union Mason
Location New York, NY Fairfax, VA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 958 39,049
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cooper.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cooper Union Mason
Tuition (In State) $44,550 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $44,550 $35,377
Room & Board $18,226 $13,120
Avg Net Price $26,194 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $39,305 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 74%

Admission

 Cooper Union Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,500 20,001
Admitted 337 18,001
Acceptance Rate 22.5% 90%
Enrolled % 54.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/35 25/31
SAT Range 1390/1530 1140/1350
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, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Cooper Union Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (58%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 Cooper Union Mason
Graduation Rate 76% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,000 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,662 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $172 $204

Diversity

 Cooper Union Mason
% Men 51% 48%
% Women 49% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 32% 43%
% Black 3% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 5%
% International 16% 5%
% Unknown Race 12% 5%

Students

 Cooper Union Mason
% In-State 42% 77%
% Out-of-State 48% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 958 students)

Cooper Union vs. Mason Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Mason?

  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 354.8% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($44,550.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.9% higher at Cooper Union than George Mason University ($44,550.00 vs. $35,377.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Cooper Union ($18,479 vs. $26,194)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 38.9% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($13,120 vs. $18,226)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than George Mason University (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 265.3% larger than aid received George Mason University ($39,305 vs. $10,760)

Cooper Union vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Mason (3.68)
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Cooper Union (22.5%)

Cooper Union vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Cooper Union is higher than George Mason University (76% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn on average $2,100 more per year than Mason graduates after ten years. ($64,000 vs. $61,900)
  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $3,088 lower median federal student loan debt than Mason graduates. ($16,662 vs. $19,750)
  • Cooper Union graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Mason graduates. ($172 vs. $204)
  • More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 73%)

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