The average acceptance rate at The Cooper Union over the past 9 years is 17.41%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 20.71%. The Cooper Union is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 53.19%, and the 2025 yield is 52.41%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 8.29% from 2017 to 2025.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 20.71%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that The Cooper Union is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 52.41%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at The Cooper Union. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, The Cooper Union received approximately 1,806 applications, admitted 374 students, and enrolled 196 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing The Cooper Union's position in the competitive admissions landscape.
The Cooper Union 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at The Cooper Union over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 17.41%, while the most recent rate stands at 20.71%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 20.71%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 15.70% and for women is 15.28%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at The Cooper Union have changed over the past 9 years (2017-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 13.05% | 15.89% | 9.69% |
| 2018-19 | 16.02% 2.97% |
16.65% 0.76% |
15.40% 5.71% |
| 2019-20 | 15.45% -0.57% |
16.82% 0.17% |
14.07% -1.33% |
| 2020-21 | 17.51% 2.06% |
18.81% 1.99% |
16.12% 2.05% |
| 2021-22 | 15.01% -2.50% |
16.03% -2.78% |
14.00% -2.12% |
| 2022-23 | 22.47% 7.46% |
19.80% 3.77% |
25.66% 11.66% |
| 2023-24 | 19.05% -3.42% |
17.52% -2.29% |
20.75% -4.91% |
| 2024-25 | 20.71% 1.66% |
19.82% 2.30% |
21.80% 1.04% |
| Average | 17.41% | 17.67% | 17.19% |
The Cooper Union has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 57.14% in 2017 to 52.41% in 2025, representing a 8.29% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 53.19%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at The Cooper Union from 2017 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 8.29% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 57.14% | 54.50% | 62.28% |
| 2018-19 | 55.10% -2.04% |
58.91% 4.41% |
51.05% -11.23% |
| 2019-20 | 50.41% -4.70% |
45.05% -13.86% |
56.89% 5.83% |
| 2020-21 | 50.36% -0.04% |
51.74% 6.69% |
48.63% -8.25% |
| 2021-22 | 52.99% 2.62% |
53.74% 2.00% |
52.13% 3.49% |
| 2022-23 | 54.30% 1.32% |
45.06% -8.68% |
62.86% 10.73% |
| 2023-24 | 52.79% -1.52% |
51.52% 6.45% |
53.98% -8.88% |
| 2024-25 | 52.41% -0.38% |
48.22% -3.29% |
57.06% 3.08% |
| Average | 53.19% | 51.09% | 55.61% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 2,193, the average number of admitted is 371, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 197.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art from 2017 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 2,574 | 336 | 192 |
| 2018-19 | 2,447 -4.93% |
392 16.67% |
216 12.50% |
| 2019-20 | 2,388 -2.41% |
369 -5.87% |
186 -13.89% |
| 2020-21 | 2,358 -1.26% |
413 11.92% |
208 11.83% |
| 2021-22 | 2,678 13.57% |
402 -2.66% |
213 2.40% |
| 2022-23 | 1,500 -43.99% |
337 -16.17% |
183 -14.08% |
| 2023-24 | 1,790 19.33% |
341 1.19% |
180 -1.64% |
| 2024-25 | 1,806 0.89% |
374 9.68% |
196 8.89% |
| Average | 2,193 | 371 | 197 |
The following table compares The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | 19.05% | 20.71% | 8.71% |
| New York University | 9.23% | 9.41% | -1.91% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 3.99% | 4.23% | -5.67% |
| Cornell University | 8.76% | 8.16% | 7.35% |
| Syracuse University | 45.92% | 41.69% | 10.15% |
| St. John's University-New York | 83.43% | 79.67% | 4.72% |
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