The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. This urban campus is home to 918 students and operates under the fundamental believe that education of the highest quality should be “free as air and water” and, therefore, available to all who qualify – independent of race, religion, sex or social status. The college, which is divided into three schools offers international-accredited undergraduate and Master’s degree programs in the fields of architecture, fine arts, and engineering.