Williams vs. Cooper Union

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, 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.

Williams College is larger than Cooper Union based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 933 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Williams 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: Williams College 6:1; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 8:1.

Williams vs. Cooper Union Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams 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 Williams College than Cooper Union ($15,894 vs. $26,283).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 9.6% lower than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art ($17,260 vs. $19,090).
• Williams College is 46.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cooper Union (about $21,740 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $46,820.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.4% higher at Williams than at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (about $21,740 more per year; $68,560.00 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 Williams College (100% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 78% larger than aid received by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students ($68,966 vs. $38,755).

Williams vs. Cooper Union Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams 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 Williams.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 130 points higher than at Cooper Union (1400).
• Incoming Williams 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: Williams College 1490/1570; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 1295/1501.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Cooper Union - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Cooper Union Jan 8, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cooper Union (3.75).
• Cooper Union has a higher acceptance rate (20.7%) than Williams (8.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 52.4% at Cooper Union.

Williams vs. Cooper Union Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams 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).

• Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's (76%).
• Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Cooper Union graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $64,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $2,080 lower median loan debt than Cooper Union graduates ($14,582 vs. $16,662).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cooper Union graduates ($150 vs. $172).
• More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cooper Union students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.