Union College

Private

Schenectady, NY

Union College is a private small school in Schenectady, NY, enrolling about 2,046 undergraduates. Union College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate near 44%. Its highest-earning reported major is Business/Managerial Economics (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $114,064/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate44%

SAT range1310–1480

ACT range29–33

Undergrads2,046

Yield (admits who enroll)15%

Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$84,561

4-year grad rate83%

Median earnings, 10yr out$88,604

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Union College's numbers?

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How Union College weighs your application

From Union College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors

Rigor of secondary school recordVery important

Class rankVery important

Academic GPAVery important

Standardized test scoresImportant

Application essayImportant

RecommendationsImportant

Nonacademic factors

InterviewConsidered

Extracurricular activitiesImportant

Talent/abilityImportant

Character/personal qualitiesImportant

First generationConsidered

Geographical residenceConsidered

State residencyConsidered

Religious affiliationNot considered

Volunteer workImportant

Work experienceImportant

Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered

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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans44%

Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out86%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biology, General$87,208/yr

Neurobiology and Neurosciences$68,666/yr

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Business/Managerial Economics$114,064/yr

Engineering

Biomedical/Medical Engineering$86,182/yr

Mechanical Engineering$85,427/yr

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$75,345/yr

Social Sciences

Economics$99,783/yr

Political Science and Government$75,005/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes

Required to live on campusNo

Dormitory capacity2,043

Typical room charge$8,685

Typical board charge$7,083

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired

Class rankConsidered, not required

RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Union College look for in applicants?

Per Union College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Union College's acceptance rate?

Union College in Schenectady, NY admits approximately 44% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Union College?

Admitted students at Union College typically score between 1310–1480 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Union College?

Admitted students at Union College typically score between 29–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Union College cost?

Union College's total cost of attendance is reported at $84,561 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Union College?

Union College's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Union College require students to live on campus?

No -- Union College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.