UMass vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA 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 Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

UMass vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst than Cooper Union ($22,948 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 12.5% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,710 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 163.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $29,048 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $17,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at Cooper Union than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $6,371 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $40,449.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 195.6% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($38,755 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 10 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming UMass students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Cooper Union (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 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: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

UMass vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $7,338 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($16,662 vs. $24,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($172 vs. $248).
• More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.