Union University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Jackson, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,607 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes76
Value20
Affordability26
Selectivity74
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 60.4%, Union University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
60.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1160 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 30
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 University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Union University 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 $27,171 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,171
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
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
$40,025
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,780
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,204
Books & Supplies
$750
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,576
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,756
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,363
Application fee: $35 (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
$25,839
$30,001 – $48,000
$26,181
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,891
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,841
Over $110,000
$30,373
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.
$5,25010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$20,714Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,00090%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 $19,193
↓ $1,521
No Pell $15,000
↓ $5,714
Dependent students $16,768
↓ $3,946
Independent students $16,666
↓ $4,048
Female students $16,667
↓ $4,047
Male students $16,573
↓ $4,141
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($20,714), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at Union University graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Union University earn a median of $53,990 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,990
Earning > $25K
80%
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
$45,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,800, about 21% 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 ↑
10.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Union University is home to 1,607 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,607
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.3%1,050
Black 13.4%215
Other 3.9%63
Hispanic 3.0%48
International 1.9%31
Asian 1.9%30
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Union University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityJackson, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential1,286 beds for 1,607 students
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Union University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
23 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 University is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$185M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,408
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
195 instructional faculty across 3 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
79
41%
$81,375
Associate Professors
54
28%
$67,903
Assistant Professors
62
32%
$61,761
Pros & Cons of Union University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Union University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Union University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Union University.
Is Union University hard to get into?
Admissions at Union University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Union University?
Union University has an acceptance rate of 60.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Union University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Union University scored between 1160 and 1390 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 University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Union University scored between 22 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Union University cost?
The average net price after aid at Union University is $27,171 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Union University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,990 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,171 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Union University known for?
Union University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Union University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Union University are $53,990, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Union University accredited?
Yes. Union University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Union University?
Union University enrolls 1,607 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Union University?
Union University graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Union University a public or private college?
Union University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Union University located?
Union University is located in Jackson, Tennessee.
What programs does Union University offer?
Union University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Union University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Union University is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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