Cooper Union vs. Muhlenberg College

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

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
Location New York, NY Allentown, PA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 983 1,818
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #92
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cooper.edu muhlenberg.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
Tuition (In State) $44,550 $59,505
Tuition (Out of State) $44,550 $59,505
Room & Board $18,650 $13,955
Avg Net Price $28,199 $31,814
Avg Grant Aid $39,187 $42,021
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,790 4,348
Admitted 341 2,783
Acceptance Rate 19.1% 64%
Enrolled % 52.8% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.44
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/34 28/31
SAT Range 1400/1520 1230/1400
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (58%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
Graduation Rate 76% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,000 $63,700
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,662 $26,490
Median Loan Payment $172 $273

Diversity

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
% Men 6% 1%
% Women 2% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 32% 75%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 2%
% International 16% 3%
% Unknown Race 12% 8%

Students

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
% In-State 51% 31%
% Out-of-State 39% 68%

Campus

Cooper Union Muhlenberg College
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

  • Muhlenberg College is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,818 students vs. 983 students)

Cooper Union vs. Muhlenberg College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Muhlenberg College?

  • Muhlenberg College is 33.6% more expensive to attend than Cooper Union for in-state tuition ($59,505.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.6% higher at Muhlenberg College than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($59,505.00 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 Muhlenberg College ($28,199 vs. $31,814)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Muhlenberg College are 33.6% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($13,955 vs. $18,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Muhlenberg College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Muhlenberg College students is 7.2% larger than aid received Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($42,021 vs. $39,187)

Cooper Union vs. Muhlenberg College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Muhlenberg College (3.44)
  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than Cooper Union (19.1%)

Cooper Union vs. Muhlenberg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cooper Union or Muhlenberg College? 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 Muhlenberg College and Cooper Union.

  • The graduation rate at Muhlenberg College is higher than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (86% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn on average $300 more per year than Muhlenberg College graduates after ten years. ($64,000 vs. $63,700)
  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $9,828 lower median federal student loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($16,662 vs. $26,490)
  • Cooper Union graduates are paying $101 less per month on federal student loans than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($172 vs. $273)
  • More Muhlenberg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 75%)

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