For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #610 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $75,729 four years after enrollment, placing The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in the 75.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #352 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art achieve strong graduate earnings in the Azimuth coverage set, with median four-year earnings that place the institution in the top quartile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #352 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in New York, NY, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art enrolls roughly 842 undergraduates. Retention stands at 91.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 81.1%, reflecting a student body that completes at high rates relative to similarly sized institutions. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #610 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $75,729, well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions, a gap driven in large part by the institution's deep concentration in Engineering — fields that carry strong and durable labor-market demand. Engineering accounts for 53% of degree output, shaping an earnings profile that consistently outpaces broader peer averages. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art admits about 20.7% of applicants — a selectivity level that, by design, limits entering-class size and the share of low-income students enrolled (27.9% Pell, 18.6% first-generation). Affordability sits in the 91.1 percentile and access in the 55.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost pressures and enrollment constraints that accompany a highly focused, small-cohort model in one of the country's highest-cost cities. Mobility sits in the 61.5 percentile, supported by strong graduate earnings and New York's dense professional labor market.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's published cost of attendance is $64,190, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $3,749, middle-income families pay around $10,457, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,870. Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #128 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 91.1st percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,804; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,729, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a strong fit for students with a focused interest in engineering, architecture, or fine arts who want a small, intensive private university experience in New York, NY — and who are prepared for a highly selective admissions process, with an admit rate of 20.7%. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median $75,729 four years after enrollment, placing The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in the 75.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a strong return signal driven largely by the institution's concentration in Engineering, which accounts for 53% of degree output. Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #610 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access picture is narrower. 27.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 18.6% are first-generation students — figures that reflect the institution's small, selective enrollment rather than broad open-access positioning. Median student debt at graduation is $15,000, and higher-income families face a net price of $25,870, so fit depends on whether a family's financial profile aligns with the institution's aid structure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the highly selective admit rate means the application process is genuinely competitive, and the program portfolio is tightly concentrated in engineering and the arts — students whose academic interests fall outside those fields will find limited breadth here.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the The Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
31 graduates
Civil Engineering
18 graduates
Chemical Engineering
23 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
62 graduates
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's program mix is anchored in Engineering, with Engineering accounting for 53% of graduates and Arts representing 36% — a focused, technically oriented portfolio that reflects the institution's identity as a specialized school of engineering, architecture, and art in New York City. Across 6 programs serving roughly 170 students annually, 4 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several placing in the top quartile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the most popular programs, Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 62 students and delivers median earnings of $24,920 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #161 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering follows with 31 graduates earning median earnings of $139,068, ranked #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and the The Chemical Engineering program graduates 23 students with median earnings of $100,191, ranked #42 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The highest-earning programs at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art reflect its engineering and technical depth. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering leads with median earnings of $139,068 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — followed by Civil Engineering at $108,466, ranked #4 among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Chemical Engineering at $100,191, ranked #42.
Fine and Studio Arts also posts strong median earnings of $24,920, ranked #161 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs are predominantly high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways in engineering and technical fields where graduates enter New York City's dense labor market and national technology and infrastructure sectors; the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national hiring trends.
For more on how Azimuth evaluates programs, see [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (47.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 10 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 67% | $84,276 | Compare |
Manhattan College Higher acceptance rate (59.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 12 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 78% | $86,316 | Compare |
United States Merchant Marine Academy Higher acceptance rate (13.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 13 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 32% | $90,610 | Compare |
Massachusetts Maritime Academy Higher acceptance rate (75.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 95% | $82,392 | Compare |
Wentworth Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (66.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 85% | $82,721 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wagner College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15255 ranked) | NY | 88% | $74,360 | #15255 | Compare |
Fresno Pacific University Similar quality tier (#15244 ranked) | CA | 64% | $58,896 | #15244 | Compare |
Baptist Health College Little Rock Similar quality tier (#15279 ranked) | AR | 95% | $62,244 | #15279 | Compare |
Trinity College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15217 ranked) | CT | 29% | $90,779 | #15217 | Compare |
Linfield University Similar quality tier (#15311 ranked) | OR | 85% | $78,638 | #15311 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's published cost of attendance is $64,190, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $3,749, middle-income families pay around $10,457, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,870. Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #128 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 91.1st percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,804; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,729, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $75,729, placing The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in the 75.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Azimuth ranks The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art #610 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Engineering drives outcomes that consistently outpace the peer median, and graduates enter a New York City labor market where demand for engineering and technical talent remains strong across industries.
The program lineup reflects a tightly focused academic portfolio anchored in Engineering, with Engineering accounting for 53% of degrees and Arts representing 36%. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
The Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 62 students with median earnings of $24,920 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #161 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) — 0.6x the national benchmark for the field. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering follows with 31 graduates earning $139,068, with Azimuth ranking the program #7 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions and a benchmark ratio of 1.4x.
Chemical Engineering rounds out the core engineering cluster with 23 graduates earning $100,191 and Azimuth ranking the program #42 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.0x the field benchmark. Civil Engineering, with 18 graduates earning $108,466, rounds out the institution's return profile and Azimuth ranks it #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions at 1.3x benchmark.
