Tufts vs. Cooper Union

Should I go to Tufts University or Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Tufts or Cooper Union is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Tufts University vs. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art comparison
Tufts University Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art College 3 College 4
Tufts University Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
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Overview

Tufts Cooper Union
Location Medford, MA New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 13,274 983
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #33
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tufts.edu cooper.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Tufts Cooper Union
Tuition (In State) $66,358 $44,550
Tuition (Out of State) $66,358 $44,550
Room & Board $17,660 $18,650
Avg Net Price $33,333 $28,199
Avg Grant Aid $51,267 $39,187
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 100%

Admission

Tufts Cooper Union
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 34,003 1,790
Admitted 3,444 341
Acceptance Rate 10.1% 19.1%
Enrolled % 50.5% 52.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 33/35 33/34
SAT Range 1460/1550 1400/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 8, 2026

Academics

Tufts Cooper Union
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (31%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Engineering (58%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (31%)
  • Architecture (11%)

Outcomes

Tufts Cooper Union
Graduation Rate 90% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $83,100 $64,000
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,000 $16,662
Median Loan Payment $186 $172

Diversity

Tufts Cooper Union
% Men 18% 6%
% Women 30% 2%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 32%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 9%
% International 9% 16%
% Unknown Race 7% 12%

Students

Tufts Cooper Union
% In-State 22% 51%
% Out-of-State 64% 39%

Campus

Tufts Cooper Union
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tufts University is larger than than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (13,274 students vs. 983 students)

Tufts vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or Cooper Union?

  • Tufts University is 49% more expensive to attend than Cooper Union for in-state tuition ($66,358.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49% higher at Tufts than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($66,358.00 vs. $44,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Tufts ($28,199 vs. $33,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 5.6% lower than costs at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,660 vs. $18,650)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Tufts University (100% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 30.8% larger than aid received Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($51,267 vs. $39,187)

Tufts vs. Cooper Union Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts or Cooper Union? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cooper Union or Tufts .

  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Cooper Union (3.75)
  • Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (19.1%) than Tufts (10.1%)

Tufts vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Tufts or Cooper Union? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cooper Union and Tufts.

  • The graduation rate at Tufts is higher than Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (90% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn on average $19,100 more per year than Cooper Union graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $64,000)
  • Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with a $1,338 lower median federal student loan debt than Tufts graduates. ($16,662 vs. $18,000)
  • Cooper Union graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Tufts graduates. ($172 vs. $186)
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/