MIT vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

MIT vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Cooper Union ($20,996 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 5.9% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($19,090 vs. $20,280).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 33.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $15,576 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at MIT than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $15,576 more per year; $62,396.00 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 59.3% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($61,734 vs. $38,755).

MIT vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 150 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming MIT 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MIT 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 MIT (4.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

MIT vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $78,100 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 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 $654 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($16,662 vs. $17,316).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($172 vs. $179).
• More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.