Columbia University in the City of New York vs The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art: which has better ROI?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,076 in 1.5 years versus 1.6 years at Columbia University in the City of New York, on median earnings of $83,847 vs $102,491 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia University in the City of New York | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,590 | $13,269 |
| Total net cost | $86,360 | $53,076 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,491 | $83,847 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | 1.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $996,260 | $656,664 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia University in the City of New York or The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, at $13,269 a year after aid versus $21,590 — a gap of $8,321 a year, or $33,284 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia University in the City of New York or The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art graduates earn more?
Columbia University in the City of New York graduates report a median $102,491 ten years after entry, $18,644 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Columbia University in the City of New York or The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York, a difference of $6,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Columbia University in the City of New York, against 81% at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. 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.