Head-to-head comparison
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art vs Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
- Net price / year
- $13,269
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,847
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
Option B Albany, NY
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Net price / year
- $29,882
- Earnings, 10 years
- $131,426
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $119,528 in 1.4 years versus 1.5 years at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, on median earnings of $131,426 vs $83,847 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,269 | $29,882 |
| Total net cost | $53,076 | $119,528 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,847 | $131,426 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 1.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $656,664 | $1,541,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, at $13,269 a year after aid versus $29,882 — a gap of $16,613 a year, or $66,452 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report a median $131,426 ten years after entry, $47,579 more than the $83,847 at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a difference of $10,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, against 68% at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.