College profile
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art — ROI, Cost & Payback
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art charges a net price of $13,269/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $53,076. Graduates earn a median $83,847 ten years after entry, $35,487/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.5 years — a 20-year net return of $656,664, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's 1.5-year payback ranks #34 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 97% of them, and #11 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,269/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $53,076 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $83,847 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $35,487/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $15,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $656,664 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art's own numbers. Net price $13,269 × 4 years = $53,076 total. Median earnings $83,847 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $35,487 a year of premium. $53,076 ÷ $35,487 = 1.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $656,664. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
The short answer
How much debt do The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate with?
A median $15,000 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $83,847 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
The short answer
What share of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art students graduate?
81% finish their degree. Spread the $53,076 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $65,526 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
The short answer
Is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $13,269 net price runs $5,644 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $22,576 less across the full degree.