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The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

New York, NY · City · 842 students
WebsiteForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$13,269
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
81%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
43% typical
$83,847
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$45,606 typical
21%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
75% typical · not scored
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
About

Located in Manhattan’s East Village, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a prestigious, highly selective institution renowned for its rigorous, specialized education across its three distinct schools of Architecture, Art, and Engineering. Campus culture is intensely focused, collaborative, and demanding, centered around small studio and laboratory environments seamlessly integrated into New York City’s urban landscape. Setting the college apart from nearly all peers is its foundational commitment to radical accessibility, guaranteeing every admitted undergraduate a merit scholarship covering at least half of their tuition as the institution steadily progresses toward fully restoring its historic free-tuition model.

Wikipedia:The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly known as Cooper Union, is a private college on Cooper Square in Manhattan, New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-supported École Polytechnique in France.

Location
New York, NY, 10003-7120 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
LGA · New York LaGuardia
7 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$46,820
Housing & food (on campus)$19,090
Books & supplies$1,800
Cost of attendance$73,690
Average net price$13,269
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$46,820
Housing & food (on campus)$19,090
Books & supplies$1,800
Cost of attendance$73,690
Average net price$13,269
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: cooper.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$44,550
Fees$2,270
Housing$16,242
Food$3,420
Books & supplies$1,800
Personal expenses$3,330
Transportation$1,188
Total published by the school$73,690
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$3,749
$30–48k
$6,904
$48–75k
$10,457
$75–110k
$16,682
$110k+
$25,870
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
81%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
52%
Back for yr 2
92%
Transferred
0%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
85% graduated · 5% transferred · 9% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$39,707
10 yrs after entry$83,847
Debt
Median at graduation$15,000
Monthly payment$159
Middle 50% owe$5k–$23k
90th percentile$26,500
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — diverse fields: 43% graduate within 6 yrs, $45,606 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
21%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1410
R 653–748 · M 642–753
SAT middle 50%: 1295–1501
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 47%Women 53%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
8 : 1
Pell grant
28%
First-gen
19%
Family income
$38,048
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
1%
Race & ethnicity
White
27%
Hispanic
13%
Black
6%
Asian
31%
Two or more
7%
Non-resident
11%
Unknown
4%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$39,707
After 10 yrs
$83,847
Fine and Studio Arts46
Architecture30
Civil Engineering27
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering26
Mechanical Engineering24
Chemical Engineering21
Engineering, General6
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$920M
Full-time faculty
27%
Faculty salary
$14,408/mo
Teaching spend
$35,566
per student
Federal loans
21%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
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