Oxy vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Occidental College in Los Angeles, 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.

Occidental College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (1,881 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Occidental 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: Occidental College 9:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Oxy vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oxy 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 Oxy ($26,283 vs. $48,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 0.8% lower than at Occidental College ($19,090 vs. $19,252).
• Occidental College is 41.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $19,454 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.6% higher at Oxy than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $19,454 more per year; $66,274.00 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 Occidental College (100% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 6.5% larger than aid received by Occidental College students ($38,755 vs. $36,400).

Oxy vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oxy 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 Oxy.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Occidental College (1450) is 50 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Oxy 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: Occidental College 1380/1520; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Occidental College 31/34; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oxy - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Oxy Jan 10, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Oxy (3.63).
• Oxy has a higher acceptance rate (44.2%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.8% at Oxy vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Oxy vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oxy 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).

• Occidental College's six-year graduation rate (83%) 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 $7,400 more per year than Oxy graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $56,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $6,990 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($16,662 vs. $23,652).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($172 vs. $244).
• More Oxy 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.