Cooper Union vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

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

Lafayette College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,775 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); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette 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; Lafayette College 10:1.

Cooper Union vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College ($26,283 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 3.9% lower than at Lafayette College ($19,090 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 39.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $18,578 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.7% higher at Lafayette College than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $18,578 more per year; $65,398.00 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 Lafayette College (100% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 15.4% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($44,707 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 30 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Lafayette College 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; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Lafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Cooper Union vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and Lafayette College? 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).

• Lafayette College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 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 Lafayette College graduates ($16,662 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($172 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.