Harvard vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, 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.

Harvard University is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Harvard University 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: Harvard University 7:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Harvard vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Cooper Union ($17,525 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 9.9% lower than at Harvard University ($19,090 vs. $21,190).
• Harvard University is 31.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $14,856 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.7% higher at Harvard than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $14,856 more per year; $61,676.00 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 Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 75.5% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($68,015 vs. $38,755).

Harvard vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 150 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Cooper Union).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Harvard vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

• Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $72,700 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $10,162 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($6,500 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($67 vs. $172).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 70%)

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.