Cooper Union vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, NY with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (933 students vs. 315 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); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Cooper Union vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Cooper Union ($16,621 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 20% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,274 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 227.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $32,540 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95% higher at Cooper Union than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $22,814 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 297.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($38,755 vs. $9,742).

Cooper Union vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Cooper Union.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 190 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Cooper Union vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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).

• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $10,156 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($16,662 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($172 vs. $277).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.