Apply to the
Cooper Union

School of Art

Admissions Process

*Please click here to view the requirements for transfer students to the School of Art. Admission after three years of high school will be considered for exceptional students. See below for more information.

EARLY DECISION: If The Cooper Union is your first choice, you may consider applying early decision.  If admitted via early decision you must accept our offer and withdraw your other college applications.
STEP 1 Submit the first part of your application online by December 1, 2017.
STEP 2 You will receive a confirmation email.
STEP 3 You will have to prepare and submit by December 1, 2017:
  • Your official high school transcript or GED certificate (required for all applicants)
  • Any official college transcripts (sent directly from the college or university)
  • Recommendation letter (1)
  • Your SAT or ACT scores (must be sent directly from the College Board and/or ACT)
  • Official TOEFL scores, if applicable*

Send all materials to the Office of Admissions, 30 Cooper Square, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10003 or admissions@cooper.edu.
STEP 4

You will receive a Hometest in December which you must complete and submit by the deadline provided (approximately 3-4 weeks later).

The Hometest will be sent to all applicants via email on the same day in December after the application deadline.

The Hometest will include portfolio requirements. All portfolio work should be sent with the Hometest.

Please follow all instructions carefully.
STEP 5 You will receive an admission decision by the end of February.

 

REGULAR DECISION:
STEP 1 Submit the first part of your application online by January 8, 2018.
STEP 2 You will receive a confirmation email.
STEP 3 You will have to prepare and submit by January 17, 2018:
  • Your official high school transcript or GED certificate (required for applicants)
  • Any official college transcripts (sent directly from the college or university)
  • Recommendation letter (1)
  • Your SAT or ACT scores (must be sent directly from the College Board and/or ACT)
  • Official TOEFL scores, if applicable*

Send all materials to the Office of Admissions, 30 Cooper Square, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10003 or admissions@cooper.edu.
STEP 4

You will receive a Hometest in late January which you must complete and submit by the deadline provided (approximately 3-4 weeks later).

The Hometest will be sent to all applicants via email on the same day in late January after the application deadline.

The Hometest will include portfolio requirements. All portfolio work should be sent with the Hometest.

Please follow all instructions carefully.
STEP 5 You will receive an admission decision by the first week of April.
 

 

*Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a secondary school in a country with English as the official medium of instruction are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit official scores to the Office of Admissions. Click here for more information regarding International Applicants.

Potential School of Art students who have received a preliminary review at National Portfolio Days, which occur after The Cooper Union’s regular admission deadline (see above), may be invited to apply after the regular admission deadline. All reasonable effort is made by the School of Art Admissions Committee to review these applications in a fair and timely fashion.

Admission After Three Years of High School

Candidates of exceptional merit may be considered for admission after completion of three years of high school. Engineering applicants must have excellent high school averages and test scores. Art and architecture applicants must have excellent high school records and exceptional ability. A recommendation from the high school principal, at least one recommendation from a teacher and an interview will be required. In accordance with the regulations of individual states, a student may or may not be eligible to receive an Equivalency Diploma after completion of a specific number of credits in appropriate subject areas at The Cooper Union. It is the responsibility of the applicant to investigate his or her state regulations in this regard.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.