Union College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Union College is a private institution located in Schenectady, New York with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Union College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 44%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1390 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,561 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Union College?

58% of enrolled students at Union College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Union College weight in admissions?

Union College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Union College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Union College actually cost?

Published tuition is $69,039 for in-state students and $69,039 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,010 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $34,561 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Union College

Will my child graduate from Union College?

These predict outcomes at Union College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Union College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Union College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Biology, General. Across all programs, Union College confers roughly 352 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $113,427 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Union College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Union College disclosed 16 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Union College?

About 90% of undergraduates at Union College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 10% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in New York parents ask about

• Hobart William Smith Colleges
  64% acceptance
• Sarah Lawrence College
  62% acceptance
• St Lawrence University
  54% acceptance
• Columbia University in the City of New York
  4% acceptance
• Cornell University
  9% acceptance
• New York University
  9% acceptance
• Fordham University
  59% acceptance
• University at Buffalo
  74% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Union College