Macalester College vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN 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.

Macalester College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,138 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Macalester 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: Macalester College 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Macalester College vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College 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 Macalester College ($26,283 vs. $40,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 17.4% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,760 vs. $19,090).
• Macalester College is 45.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $21,284 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at Macalester College than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $21,284 more per year; $68,104.00 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 Macalester College (100% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($42,766 vs. $38,755).

Macalester College vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Macalester College 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 Macalester College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Macalester College (1430) is 30 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Macalester College 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: Macalester College 1350/1510; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Macalester College 30/34; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Macalester College - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Macalester College Jan 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.5%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.9% at Macalester College vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Macalester College vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Macalester College 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).

• Macalester College's six-year graduation rate (87%) 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 $9,900 more per year than Macalester College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $6,008 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($16,662 vs. $22,670).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($172 vs. $234).
• More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.