California Institute of Technology vs Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are two prestigious institutions offering unique educational experiences. Caltech, located in Pasadena, California, is renowned for its strength in science and engineering, while Cooper Union, situated in New York City, emphasizes art, architecture, and engineering. With acceptance rates of 7% and 10%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. Caltech's student body is predominantly male (63%) and international (37%), while Cooper Union's student body is more evenly distributed between genders (52% male, 48% female) and has a higher percentage of domestic students (85%). Caltech's popular majors include engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics, while Cooper Union's popular majors include art, architecture, and engineering. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Caltech's rate at 94% and Cooper Union's rate at 88%. To
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![]() California Institute of Technology |
![]() Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art |
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Overview |
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Location | Pasadena, California | New York, New York |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 99.0% | 91.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 14.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$100
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 13,026 | 2,678 |
Total number of admissions given out | 510 | 393 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 270 | 210 |
Yield rate | 52.9% | 53.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,122 | $67,146 |
Average net price | $30,162 | $20,757 |
Tuition | $56,364 | $44,550 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,398
Meal plan:
$7,350
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
54.0%
Average amount $47,556 |
100.0%
Average amount $38,212 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,333 |
20.0%
Average amount $4,814 |
Students taking out private loans |
15.0%
Average amount $4,732 |
1.0%
Average amount $24,000 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
987
Men 55.3% Women 44.7% |
876
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Graduate students |
1,410
Men 66.7% Women 33.3% |
60
Men 80.0% Women 20.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 92.2% | 36.5% |
International students | 29.4% | 14.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,572 | 170 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Georgia Maryland Florida | New York New Jersey California Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 3:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.9% | 83.4% |
Dropout rate | 4.6% | 11.8% |
Transferred out | 1.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
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Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Astronomy and Astrophysics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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