Cooper Union vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Comparable Facts

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

University at Albany is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (17,560 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); University at Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; University at Albany 16:1.

Cooper Union vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany than Cooper Union ($17,949 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 14% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,423 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 330.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $35,954 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $10,866.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.8% higher at Cooper Union than at University at Albany (about $15,564 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $31,256.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at University at Albany (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 245.7% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($38,755 vs. $11,210).

Cooper Union vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and Cooper Union.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 180 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; University at Albany 1120/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; University at Albany 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3).
• University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY.

Cooper Union vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany's (64%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $4,403 lower median loan debt than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($16,662 vs. $21,065).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($172 vs. $217).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 70%)

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.