Wheaton College vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL 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.

Wheaton College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,874 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wheaton College is located in Wheaton, IL (Large Suburban setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Wheaton 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: Wheaton College 10:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Wheaton College vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College 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 The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than Wheaton College ($26,283 vs. $31,356).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 31.8% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($13,010 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wheaton College (about $1,274 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $45,546.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Cooper Union than at Wheaton College (about $1,274 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $45,546.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at Wheaton College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 38.5% larger than aid received by Wheaton College students ($38,755 vs. $27,987).

Wheaton College vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wheaton College 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 Wheaton College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 30 points higher than at Wheaton College (1370).
• Incoming Cooper Union students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Wheaton College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 1260/1470; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 28/32; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wheaton College - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have the same average high school GPA (3.75) as students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Wheaton College vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wheaton College 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).

• Wheaton College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than Wheaton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $5,838 lower median loan debt than Wheaton College graduates ($16,662 vs. $22,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wheaton College graduates ($172 vs. $232).
• More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.