Cooper Union vs. Reed

Comparable Facts

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

Reed College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,358 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); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed 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; Reed College 9:1.

Cooper Union vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Reed? 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 Reed ($26,283 vs. $30,953).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 7.5% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,660 vs. $19,090).
• Reed College is 48.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $22,530 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at Reed than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $22,530 more per year; $69,350.00 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 Reed College (100% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 43.1% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($55,445 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. Reed Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Reed College (1410) is 10 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Reed 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; Reed College 1290/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Reed College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 13.1% at Reed.

Cooper Union vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Reed College's six-year graduation rate (80%) 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 $16,800 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $662 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($16,000 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($165 vs. $172).
• More Reed 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.