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CollegeGrad School

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

#2 in Best Colleges for Art in America
  • 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • 84 reviews
    How to Apply
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A+
    2. Value
      A
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      NG
    5. Athletics
      NG
    6. Party Scene
      NG
    7. Professors
      A-
    8. Location
      A+
    9. Dorms
      NG
    10. Campus Food
      NG
    11. Student Life
      A+
    12. Safety
      A
    View Full Report Card
    Cooper Union is a highly rated private college located in Manhattan, New York in the New York City Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 859 undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive as the Cooper Union acceptance rate is 13%. Popular majors include Studio Arts, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Graduating 85% of students, Cooper Union alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $42,500.
    About The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art...
    Athletic Division
    —
    Athletic Conference
    —
    Address
    7 East 7th Street
    New York, NY 10003
    Website
    cooper.edu

    The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    13%
    Application Deadline
    —
    SAT Range
    1310-1530
    ACT Range
    28-34
    Application Fee
    $75
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    —

    Cost

    Net Price
    $28,494/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $32,452/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    100%

    Academics

    Professors
    A-
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    9:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    Yes
    75%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.12 responses
    42%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.12 responses
    8%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.12 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Studio Arts
      64 Graduates
    • Mechanical Engineering
      28 Graduates
    • Electrical Engineering
      27 Graduates
    • Architecture
      26 Graduates
    • Chemical Engineering
      22 Graduates
    • Civil Engineering
      17 Graduates
    • Engineering
      3 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    859Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    9
    Undergrads Over 25
    3%
    Pell Grant
    25%
    Varsity Athletes
    —
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 5 responses
    Report
    • Dedicated
      40%
    • Brilliant, talented, and humble
      20%
    • Busy
      20%
    • Nerd, love math, motivated, but there are cool ppl
      20%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    75%
    Poll
    63%
    of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene.8 responses
    Poll
    62%
    of students say no one pays attention to varsity sports.13 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 7 responses
    Report
    • Challenging
      71%
    • Hard
      29%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $64,900/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    85%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    93%
    National
    83%
    100%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.7 responses
    Colleges like The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
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    The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Reviews

    84 reviews
    All Categories
    My first and second semester at cooper have been an intense experience. It feels like a never ending cycle of stress, work, & depression. The work load is heavy and I've learned a lot. But, mostly art history and how to critique artwork. Cooper is very dependent on its "reputation" and it is a lot of talk. Students here like to talk about ideas and about how talented they are and about cooper's prestige, but visually it does not correlate. My relationship to my professors is borderline abusive. I find myself having panic attacks before class. I have a 3.7 gpa, but I'm killing myself for it. The students are extremely cold and the classes do not interact with each other. I have a few positive friends but otherwise it's a competitive and dark environment. Most students are more concerned with than image than their artwork. It's rare to have a genuine conversation with anyone. Everyone is high or drunk constantly. If you value sleep and mental health, this is NOT the school for you!
    Start Your Review of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
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    The atmosphere of Cooper Union is very school focused. Cooper Union's courses can be very challenging. However, there are professors with office hours that are willing to help students with questions.
    Cooper students are driven, eccentric, and independent. They have their own vision and aren't afraid to speak up. The community you forge stays with you forever. It's true that Cooper tests your sanity. Students are prone to more than one melt down—this is a given. But the wealth of knowledge, dialogue, and support that is exchanged and brought to its limits is invaluable. You will become a more critical and self-aware maker, designer, and thinker. You will learn to carve your own path and defend your ambitions. You will work so hard that everywhere elsewhere will feel like a breeze. The experience is vital.