Union College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Schenectady, New York. It enrolls 2,046 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarTrimester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes88
Value45
Affordability8
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 43.9%, Union College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
43.9%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1310 – 1480
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Union College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Union College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $34,561 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$34,561
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$69,039
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,010
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,510
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$576
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$576
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,561
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,776
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,415
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,941
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,100
Over $110,000
$45,017
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,60025%percentile
$25,337Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$28,82490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,167
↓ $6,170
No Pell $21,500
↓ $3,837
Female students $21,500
↓ $3,837
Male students $19,500
↓ $5,837
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,667, less than completers ($25,337), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
85% of full-time students who enrolled at Union College graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
85%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Union College earn a median of $88,604 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$88,604
Earning > $25K
91%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$71,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$87,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$91,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$75,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$79,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,300, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Union College is home to 2,046 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,046
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.7%1,283
Hispanic 11.0%224
International 10.6%217
Asian 7.4%151
Black 4.4%89
Other 3.9%79
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Union College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySchenectady, New York
Housing
Strongly residential2,043 beds for 2,046 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Union College offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Union College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$713M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$108,977
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
207 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
77
37%
$140,203
Associate Professors
55
27%
$106,581
Assistant Professors
32
15%
$84,636
Instructors
25
12%
$71,068
Lecturers
18
9%
$78,647
Pros & Cons of Union College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Union College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Union College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Union College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Union College.
Is Union College hard to get into?
Union College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 43.9%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Union College?
Union College has an acceptance rate of 43.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Union College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Union College scored between 1310 and 1480 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Union College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Union College scored between 29 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Union College cost?
The average net price after aid at Union College is $34,561 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Union College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $88,604 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $34,561 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Union College known for?
Union College is best known for its programs in Economics, Experimental Psychology, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Union College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Union College are $88,604, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Union College accredited?
Yes. Union College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Union College?
Union College enrolls 2,046 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Union College?
Union College graduates 85% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Union College a public or private college?
Union College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Union College located?
Union College is located in Schenectady, New York.
What programs does Union College offer?
Union College offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Experimental Psychology, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Union College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Union College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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