Cooper Union vs. Whitman College

Comparable Facts

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

Whitman College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,561 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); Whitman College is in Walla Walla, WA (Remote Town setting).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Whitman 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; Whitman College 10:1.

Cooper Union vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cooper Union or Whitman 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Whitman College ($26,283 vs. $37,633).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Whitman College are 21% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,080 vs. $19,090).
• Whitman College is 36.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $17,230 more per year; $64,050.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.8% higher at Whitman College than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $17,230 more per year; $64,050.00 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 Whitman College (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Whitman College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($40,489 vs. $38,755).

Cooper Union vs. Whitman College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is the same as at Whitman College (1400).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Whitman College (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501; Whitman College 1310/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34; Whitman College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cooper Union - Test optional; Whitman College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027; Whitman College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Whitman College (3.68).
• Whitman College has a higher acceptance rate (38.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 52.4% at Cooper Union vs. 14.1% at Whitman College.

Cooper Union vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cooper Union and Whitman 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).

• Whitman College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Whitman College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $838 lower median loan debt than Whitman College graduates ($16,662 vs. $17,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whitman College graduates ($172 vs. $180).
• More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (93% 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.