Cooper Union and its Tuition Policy To Change?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cooper Union
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<p>Hello, I am RedUmbrella, a high school student seeking all sorts of colleges. Cooper Union is definitely on the top of my list, as my family's financial situation (somewhat of a struggle, though probably not low enough for financial aid) is making me choose a more affordable college experience. A full-tuition scholarship, it just sounds to good to be true.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, it probably is:
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/education/cooper-union-may-charge-tuition-to-undergraduates.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/education/cooper-union-may-charge-tuition-to-undergraduates.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://mlkshk.com/r/8VZZ%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://mlkshk.com/r/8VZZ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I was completely DEVASTATED when I heard Cooper was contemplating to start charging tuition. If the scholarship for the 2011-12 school year is $37,500, the potential tuition could cost upwards $40,000. Which is quite literally out of my league. Of course this had to happen before I could even apply. <em>sigh</em></p>

<p>Anyway, I was hoping that perhaps someone on CC could give me some more insider info on this situation. It is my understanding that Cooper recently constructed a new building. Were there any other expenses that may have put Cooper in a hole? Are there other ideas that could possibly prevent Cooper from charging tuition?</p>

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<p>Hi RedUmbrella.</p>

<p>Tuition is a last resort to solving Cooper’s budget deficit. The idea has really shaken up the entire school. There are currently groups working to find ways to save money and find possible sources of income.</p>

<p>The New Academic Building is a very controversial subject. Some argue that it was a terrible decision that pushed Cooper further into debt. Others say that it was a good idea that allowed the school to liquidate some of its assets (51 Astor, the old engineering building).</p>

<p>I don’t know exactly what put Cooper in this “hole,” but the downturn of the economy definitely did not help. The school also complains that not enough alumni donate to the school (the number was about 20%, which was incredibly surprising to me).</p>

<p>Some ideas regarding tuition that I’ve heard include scholarships based on academic performance and need-based aid. I have also heard that if Cooper did decide to charge tuition, the cost would be comparable to the tuition of a public institution.</p>

<p>Recently, there have been many efforts to raise donations from the school. The Engineering Student Council (ESC) did a phenomenal job in coordinating a fundraiser in which over 80% of the student body donated.
Also definitely check this out: [Money</a> On The Table ? Free Cooper Union](<a href=“http://freecooperunion.com/press/]Money”>http://freecooperunion.com/press/)
I think it’s a great campaign, and it’s a great source of information.</p>

<p>You shouldn’t worry so much about it. Although I can’t promise you that Cooper will still be tuition-free by the time you apply, I can promise you that everyone is fighting to keep the school as free as air and water.</p>

3

<p>Don’t mean to revive this thread, but… it has begun.</p>

<p>[Cooper</a> Union Will Start Charging Tuition to Graduate Students – Daily Intel](<a href=“http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/cooper-union-to-charge-graduate-students.html]Cooper”>Cooper Union Will Start Charging Tuition to Graduate Students)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/nyregion/cooper-union-will-charge-tuition-for-graduate-students.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/nyregion/cooper-union-will-charge-tuition-for-graduate-students.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

</p>

<p><em>Sigh</em> I REALLY hope that they don’t start undergraduate tuition yet (I’m a junior FYI, so I’d be Class of 2018. No promises of free tuition for me ): )</p>

<p>Does anyone/ Cooper student have insider info on ANYTHING whatsoever? Like, how much would the graduates have to pay? The full $38,000 (or so)? Or as my parents say, a price similar to CUNY? (LOL yeah right). Student loans are the absolute last thing I want in my life, thank you very much.</p>

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<p>@RedUmbrella</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>The NY times says if you’re enrolling in September 2013 as an undergrad you won’t have to pay tuition.</p>

<p>“Undergraduate students who begin college in September 2013 will not pay tuition during their four years at Cooper Union, Dr. Bharucha said, but so far, the institution has made no commitments for those who follow them.”</p>

<p>I’m a junior too. We get out summer of 2013 and enroll later that year. So you and I should be safe provided that this is a firm commitment.</p>

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<p>@MichaelGScarn</p>

<p>Evidently, those two articles contradict each other. I’ll take the New York Times word, though. Aaahh, such a relief. :)</p>

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<p>Hello everyone. I apologize for the delayed response. The semester ended about two weeks ago and I have been catching up on sleep after a tiring finals week.</p>

<p>President Bharucha has stated that incoming freshman for fall 2013 will still be guaranteed a four year full scholarship. (If anyone checks the Cooper website regularly: [Update</a> from President Bharucha: A Framework for Action | Cooper Union](<a href=“http://cooper.edu/about/news/update-president-bharucha-framework-action]Update”>Update from President Bharucha: A Framework for Action | The Cooper Union))</p>

<p>As for graduate students (2013 and beyond), they may be charged tuition. Key word: may. Yes, it will likely be the full $38,000 (or $37,500–I don’t remember the exact amount). Charging tuition with a price similar to that of a public institution was just a rumor I heard from a fellow student a few months back, and it was concerning tuition for undergrad.
As for student loans for grad school, no one forces you to go to grad school at Cooper (unless you fail your courses and are forced to stay a fifth year; most choose to transfer to other schools at this point). Many choose not to go to grad school at all and begin working immediately after graduation. Many others choose to go to schools that give them grants and financial aid (many are paid to go to grad school). Regarding grad school tuition, I am mainly concerned with students that want to obtain a bachelor+master in four years. There are a few, and they are in the minority, but their fate is undecided at this point.</p>

<p>The move to charge tuition for graduate school was met with, as you can imagine, a student protest. Mainly from the art and architecture school (engineers usually do their own thing, focus on finals). [The</a> Day | Two Arrests During Cooper Union Protest - The Local East Village Blog - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/the-day-two-arrests-during-cooper-union-protest/]The”>http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/the-day-two-arrests-during-cooper-union-protest/)</p>

<p>The Cooper community is still working on finding ways to guarantee scholarships for future incoming classes beyond 2013. [Revenue</a> Task Force Recommendations: Guided by Concern to Preserve Full-Tuition Scholarships for Undergraduates | Cooper Union](<a href=“http://cooper.edu/about/news/revenue-task-force-recommendations]Revenue”>Task Force Recommendations on Increasing Revenues and Reducing Expenses | The Cooper Union)</p>

<p>As a current student at the Cooper Union, I plan on donating the value of my scholarship and then some back to the school in the future. Many of my friends feel the same way. Some others (current students, alumni, etc.) say that they will not donate to the school if they start charging tuition. However, unless there is a sudden influx of donations (especially from alumni), it is not enough to prevent the implementation of tuition.</p>

<p>I hope this was enough to provide some perspective on the situation.
Disclaimer: I am merely a student at the Cooper Union and I in no way represent the community, nor can I speak for the community as a whole.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.</p>

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<p>Had to revive this thread again. Yep, Cooper is leaning towards implementing a tuition.</p>

<p>[Cooper</a> Union’s Free Tuition Days May Be Over, Says President: Gothamist](<a href=“http://gothamist.com/2013/02/16/cooper_unions_free_tuition_days_are.php]Cooper”>Cooper Union's Free Tuition Days May Be Over, Says President - Gothamist)</p>

<p>I know it’s odd to be so concerned with one college. But it still makes me sad and slightly worried for the students who attend. Graduate students have to pay nearly $40,000 a year. I couldn’t find the exact numbers for undergraduate tuition, but I predict it will be on equal pricing to what graduate students pay. </p>

<p>This may be the elephant in the room, but should a tuition be implemented, it would be especially harmful for art and architecture students. Both art and architecture have shaky job prospects in this recession. Coupled with high tuition/ student loans… it’s a scary prospect. I love the arts but monetarily speaking it is an incredibly risky field.</p>

<p>Here’s an interesting question: would Cooper need to loosen the admission standards so more people could get accepted (and thus more tuition money comes in?) I mean, if they start charging tuition, they can’t say “we offer full-tuition scholarships” as a reason for selectivity. Or maybe it’s irrelevant.</p>

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<p>Hi
Do you know anything about Cooper ED result, what is happening?
Any information please.
Thanks.</p>