Cooper Union vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,520 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); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Cooper Union vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or RISD? 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 RISD ($26,283 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 12.9% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,626 vs. $19,090).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 33.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $15,868 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.9% higher at RISD than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $15,868 more per year; $62,688.00 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 Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($38,755 vs. $38,223).

Cooper Union vs. RISD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 60 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming RISD 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; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RISD (3.71).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Cooper Union vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) 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 $12,900 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $10,338 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($16,662 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($172 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.