Emerson vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Emerson vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Cooper Union? 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 Emerson ($26,283 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 8.7% lower than at Emerson College ($19,090 vs. $20,920).
• Emerson College is 21.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $10,236 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at Emerson than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $10,236 more per year; $57,056.00 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 Emerson College (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 43.6% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($38,755 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 50 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Emerson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Emerson vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) 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 $14,800 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $6,838 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($16,662 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($172 vs. $242).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.