Cooper Union vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

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

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (6,938 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); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Cooper Union vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or SUNY Cortland? 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 State University of New York at Cortland than Cooper Union ($19,847 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 18.5% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,560 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 427.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $37,946 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 149.3% higher at Cooper Union than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $28,036 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at State University of New York at Cortland (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 369.5% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($38,755 vs. $8,254).

Cooper Union vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 230 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SUNY Cortland (3.7).
• SUNY Cortland has a higher acceptance rate (59.8%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Cooper Union vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and SUNY Cortland? 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 State University of New York at Cortland's (67%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $4,838 lower median loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates ($16,662 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Cortland graduates ($172 vs. $222).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.