The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

New York, NY 842 Undergrads 85.2% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$64,190

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$13,269

After Aid

Median Earnings

$75,729

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,269

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$75,729

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$83,847

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate85.2%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.7

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients28.1%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time99.4%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS61.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

20.7%

SAT Avg

1,410

SAT Reading

25th: 653-75th: 748

SAT Math

25th: 642-75th: 753

ACT Composite

25th: 28-75th: 34

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$658k

+$191k

+$173k

Median Cost$13k/yr

+$610k

+$143k

+$126k

Full Cost$64k/yr

+$427k

-$40k

-$58k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$13k/yr

263%

Full Cost$64k/yr

Never

-25%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return44%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-50%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

MastCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $115,974

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.