University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, 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 Lowell is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell 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 Lowell than Cooper Union ($16,530 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 15.4% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,148 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 176% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $29,854 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $16,966.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.1% higher at Cooper Union than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $10,556 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $36,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (100% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 156.7% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($38,755 vs. $15,098).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Lowell 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 University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 120 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at University of Massachusetts-Lowell).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370; 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 Lowell 25/32; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
• University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Lowell 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 Lowell's (50%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $8,338 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($16,662 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($172 vs. $258).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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.