Rutgers vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Rutgers vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Cooper Union ($20,522 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 17.7% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,714 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 161.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $28,891 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $17,929.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at Cooper Union than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $9,379 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $37,441.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (100% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 131.5% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($38,755 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 10 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
• Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Rutgers vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

• Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 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 $5,553 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($16,662 vs. $22,215).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($172 vs. $229).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 68%)

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.