HMC vs. Cooper Union

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvey Mudd College
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Cooper Union New York, NY
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Cooper Union Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Cooper Union 933
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Cooper Union Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Cooper Union
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Cooper Union -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Cooper Union Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Cooper Union

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Cooper Union $46,820
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Cooper Union $46,820
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Cooper Union $19,090
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Cooper Union $26,283
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Cooper Union $38,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Cooper Union 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Cooper Union 1,806
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Cooper Union 374
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Cooper Union 20.7%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Cooper Union 52.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Cooper Union 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Cooper Union 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Cooper Union 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Cooper Union A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Cooper Union Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Cooper Union Very High
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Cooper Union 28/34
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Cooper Union 1295/1501
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Cooper Union Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Cooper Union 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Cooper Union
    • Engineering (58%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
    • Architecture (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Cooper Union 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Cooper Union $64,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Cooper Union 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Cooper Union $16,662
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Cooper Union $172

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Cooper Union 49%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Cooper Union 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Cooper Union Very High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Cooper Union No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Cooper Union 32%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Cooper Union 18%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Cooper Union 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Cooper Union 9%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Cooper Union 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Cooper Union 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Cooper Union 9%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Cooper Union 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Cooper Union 12%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Cooper Union 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Cooper Union 39%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • HMC Yes
  • Cooper Union Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • HMC Yes
  • Cooper Union No
  • Meal Plan
  • HMC Yes
  • Cooper Union No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • HMC No
  • Cooper Union No
  • Daycare Facility
  • HMC No
  • Cooper Union No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA 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.

Harvey Mudd College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (951 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Harvey Mudd 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: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

HMC vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC 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 HMC ($26,283 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 14.5% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($19,090 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 46.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $21,793 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $46,820.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.5% higher at HMC than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $21,793 more per year; $68,613.00 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 Harvey Mudd College (100% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 19.2% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($46,199 vs. $38,755).

HMC vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HMC 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 HMC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 140 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
  • Incoming HMC 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: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
  • Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

HMC vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC 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).

  • Harvey Mudd College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 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 $8,878 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($16,662 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($172 vs. $264).

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.