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.
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.
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.
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.