School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL 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.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (3,394 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($26,283 vs. $55,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are 13.3% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,550 vs. $19,090).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $9,600 more per year; $56,420.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $9,600 more per year; $56,420.00 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 93.3% larger than aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students ($38,755 vs. $20,050).

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 250 points higher than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1150).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 23 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Test-free; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (3.51).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (77.5%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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).

• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (60%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $24,900 more per year than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $9,051 lower median loan debt than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates ($16,662 vs. $25,713).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates ($172 vs. $265).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 62%)

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.