Cooper Union vs. Purchase College

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY at Purchase College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (3,333 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); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Cooper Union vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Purchase College? 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 SUNY at Purchase College than Cooper Union ($18,211 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 13.9% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,436 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 423% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $37,867 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $8,953.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 143.8% higher at Cooper Union than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $27,617 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $19,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at SUNY at Purchase College (100% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 271.5% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($38,755 vs. $10,432).

Cooper Union vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 120 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Purchase College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
• Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Cooper Union vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and Purchase College? 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 SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $5,838 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($16,662 vs. $22,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($172 vs. $232).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 65%)

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.