Cooper Union vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Swarthmore College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,623 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); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cooper Union vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Swarthmore? 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 Swarthmore College than Cooper Union ($22,469 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 6% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,090 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 39.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $18,674 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.9% higher at Swarthmore than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $18,674 more per year; $65,494.00 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 Swarthmore College (100% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 59% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($61,634 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 130 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 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; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Cooper Union vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $2,838 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,662 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($172 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.