William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ 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.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• William Paterson University of New Jersey 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: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey than Cooper Union ($13,509 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 14.9% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($16,240 vs. $19,090).
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is 198.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $31,116 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $15,704.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 84.7% higher at Cooper Union than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $21,476 more per year; $46,820.00 vs. $25,344.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students is 157.7% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($38,755 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1400) is 230 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cooper Union students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97).
• William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than Cooper Union (20.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William Paterson University of New Jersey 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
• Graduates from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art earn a median of about $17,500 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates have a $7,838 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($16,662 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Cooper Union graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($172 vs. $253).
• More Cooper Union graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 59%)

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.