Wellesley vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, 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.

Wellesley College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,407 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Wellesley College 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: Wellesley College 7:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Wellesley vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than Cooper Union ($22,174 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are 9.2% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,090 vs. $21,024).
• Wellesley College is 43.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $20,356 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.5% higher at Wellesley than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $20,356 more per year; $67,176.00 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 Wellesley College (100% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 65.4% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($64,116 vs. $38,755).

Wellesley vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 110 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Wellesley students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Cooper Union).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Wellesley (14%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Wellesley vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

• Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $7,762 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($8,900 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($92 vs. $172).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.