Cooper Union vs. Oberlin

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,909 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); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin 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; Oberlin College 9:1.

Cooper Union vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($26,283 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 2.2% lower than at Oberlin College ($19,090 vs. $19,510).
• Oberlin College is 43.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $20,546 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.9% higher at Oberlin than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $20,546 more per year; $67,366.00 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 Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($38,755 vs. $35,780).

Cooper Union vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 40 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Oberlin 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; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Oberlin College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
• Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Cooper Union vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $9,917 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($16,662 vs. $26,579).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $102 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($172 vs. $274).
• More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.