Grinnell vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA 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.

Grinnell College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,788 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Grinnell 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: Grinnell College 9:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Grinnell vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell 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 Grinnell ($26,283 vs. $34,363).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 11.8% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,842 vs. $19,090).
• Grinnell College is 45.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $21,286 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at Grinnell than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $21,286 more per year; $68,106.00 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 Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 26.6% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($49,077 vs. $38,755).

Grinnell vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell 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 Grinnell.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 80 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Grinnell 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: Grinnell College 1410/1540; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Grinnell vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell 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).

• Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) 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 $4,500 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $3,492 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($13,170 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($136 vs. $172).
• More Grinnell 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.