Cooper Union vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rochester is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (11,946 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 of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Cooper Union vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or U of R? 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than U of R ($26,283 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 3.5% lower than at University of Rochester ($19,090 vs. $19,792).
• University of Rochester is 43.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $20,260 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.3% higher at U of R than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $20,260 more per year; $67,080.00 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 University of Rochester (100% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 17.4% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($45,500 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cooper Union or U of R? 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 U of R and Cooper Union.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 80 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming U of R students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 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; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
• 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 of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; U of R - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have the same average high school GPA (3.75) as students at U of R (3.75).
• U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Cooper Union vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and U of R? 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).

• University of Rochester's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 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 $7,838 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($16,662 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($172 vs. $253).
• More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.