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Admissions Policy and Practice

The Cooper Union is committed to the highest ethical standards in recruiting, admitting, and supporting students in architecture, art, and engineering. Guided by a holistic admissions philosophy, our policies are documented and reviewed on an annual basis to promote clarity, equity, and alignment with institutional values. Recruitment efforts are grounded in strategic policies and procedures that emphasize integrity and shaping a class that can successfully rise to our academic rigor. Outreach is designed to provide accurate information about Cooper’s programs, community, requirements, and expectations.

Staff involved in the recruitment process receive ongoing training in ethical practices and professional standards, ensuring that communications with prospective students remain clear, consistent, and equitable. Recruitment activities are also evaluated for effectiveness in attracting a competitive applicant pool prepared to thrive at The Cooper Union.
 
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic preparation and maintain a competitive GPA. School of Engineering applicants are required to complete a full year of calculus, physics, and chemistry. School of Architecture and School of Art applicants must complete discipline-specific assessments; the Studio Test for the School of Architecture and the Hometest for the School of Art evaluate creative and technical readiness. Each application undergoes multiple levels of review by admissions staff, faculty, and academic leadership to ensure fairness and consistency.
 
Admissions outcomes are measured through indicators such as yield, retention, and academic performance. Findings are documented and reviewed by key stakeholders, leading to policy updates and process improvements. These practices reflect our commitment to ethical conduct, data-informed decision-making, and the continuous enhancement of the student experience.

  • 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.