In a dramatic announcement reminiscent of an Oprah Winfrey reveal, the incoming class of seniors at New York’s Cooper Union learned at their convocation ceremony that they would not have to pay tuition for their final year. Outgoing president Laura Sparks also announced that for the next four years, seniors in the schools of art, architecture, and engineering would attend tuition-free. This marks a significant step towards reinstating full-tuition scholarships for all students after a prolonged financial crisis.
Founded by industrialist Peter Cooper in 1859, Cooper Union was built on the philosophy that education should be “as free as air and water.” Supported by a 1902 gift from Andrew Carnegie and income from real estate taxes on the Chrysler Building, the school charged no tuition for over a century.
However, financial confidence led to the construction of a $167 million, Thom Mayne-designed building in 2009. When incoming president Jamshed Bharucha revealed serious budget shortfalls in 2011, the school instituted partial tuition for some students for the first time in its history.
This decision sparked a student revolt, including an occupation of the president’s office. In 2014, students, faculty, and alumni filed a lawsuit, leading to an investigation by the state attorney general. Several board members resigned abruptly, and the president stepped down the next day. The lawsuit settlement resulted in ongoing oversight by financial monitor Kroll.
In 2018, Cooper Union announced a 10-year plan to return to full scholarships. Despite the pandemic, the school revealed in 2021 that it was on track to meet this goal. Sparks made the recent announcement during her final week as president, a role she assumed in 2017. This tuition-free initiative was made possible by donations from three alumni donors: an anonymous benefactor, George Reeves (engineering degree, 1964) and his wife Ross Wisnewski, and John Manuck (engineering degree, 1969) and his wife Mary.
“We are so encouraged that Cooper is moving steadily toward tuition-free undergraduate education for all, and we are thrilled by this amazing opportunity to contribute to achieving this goal now for current students in their senior year. It is an honor to be a part of this investment in the future and a joy to witness the impact of doing so,” said Reeves and Wisnewski.
Manuck added, “The return to a tuition-free Cooper Union is of paramount importance. Establishing this status for the senior year demonstrates a serious commitment in this direction.” This move comes amid rising costs for higher education at private universities in the U.S., which have increased by about 40 percent over the last two decades, adjusted for inflation. According to the Education Data Initiative, outstanding private student loan debt stands at approximately $128.8 billion.
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
