UMBC vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD 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.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of Maryland Baltimore County 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: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

UMBC vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC 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 University of Maryland Baltimore County than Cooper Union ($18,770 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 20.7% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($15,146 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 253.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $33,564 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $13,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.7% higher at Cooper Union than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $15,545 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $31,275.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 279.8% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($38,755 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC 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 UMBC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 70 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UMBC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

UMBC vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC 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 University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $4,535 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($16,662 vs. $21,197).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($172 vs. $219).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 67%)

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.