Cooper Union vs. SUNY-ESF

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,757 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry 14:1.

Cooper Union vs. SUNY-ESF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or SUNY-ESF? 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry than Cooper Union ($19,814 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are 5.3% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($18,080 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 403.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-ESF (about $37,517 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $9,303.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.3% higher at Cooper Union than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (about $24,557 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $22,263.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 345.5% larger than aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students ($38,755 vs. $8,699).

Cooper Union vs. SUNY-ESF Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or SUNY-ESF? 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-ESF 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 SUNY-ESF (1220).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at SUNY-ESF).
• 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1130/1300.
• 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; SUNY-ESF - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SUNY-ESF (3.7).
• SUNY-ESF has a higher acceptance rate (63.3%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 17.6% at SUNY-ESF.

Cooper Union vs. SUNY-ESF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and SUNY-ESF? 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 College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (66%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $3,088 lower median loan debt than SUNY-ESF graduates ($16,662 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY-ESF graduates ($172 vs. $204).
• More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.