Admit rate has ranged 41%–47% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Union College is a small but mighty liberal arts school in Schenectady, NY, where the humanities and engineering collide. With a 44% acceptance rate and SAT scores in the 1310-1480 range for admitted students, it's selective but not cutthroat. The real draw? A rare blend of intimate liberal arts classes and ABET-accredited engineering programs, all on a campus where 92% of students live all four years.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,046
In-state tuition
$69,039
Out-of-state tuition
$69,039
Student Clubs
130+
Acceptance Rate
44%
On-Campus Living
92%
Average Grant Aid
$23,211
4-Year Graduation Rate
67%
Engineering Accreditation
ABET-accredited
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$88,604
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$25,337
Graduation rate
80%
First-year retention
90%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
86%
Pell (lower-income) share
27%
First-generation share
13%
Endowment / student
$277,355
Financial health
2.5 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer and Information Sciences, General$76,460
Mechanical Engineering$67,812
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$63,392
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$59,124
Economics$58,673
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$42,682
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
1.47
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
21°F
Annual rain
48.1"
Annual snow
41.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
181
Scholarly works
6,963
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Union College?
Union College's acceptance rate is approximately 44% (Schenectady, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Union College?
Admitted students at Union College typically score 1310–1480 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Union College cost?
At Union College, the average net price (after aid) is about $34,561 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Union College?
Union College enrolls approximately 2,046 undergraduate students.
Where is Union College located?
Union College is located in Schenectady, NY.
Admissions
Union College is selective but not elite, with a 44% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ([8], [9], [10], [11]). The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled students is 1320-1460, while ACT scores hover between 30-33 ([7]). Early applicants have a slight edge, with a 53.1% acceptance rate ([8]). The admissions process is holistic, with a focus on academic rigor and extracurricular engagement, though test scores remain a significant factor ([7], [10]).
Union’s curriculum is a deliberate mashup of liberal arts and engineering—a rarity among small colleges. It offers ABET-accredited engineering degrees alongside traditional humanities majors ([17], [13]). Popular majors include Social Sciences, Engineering, and Biological Sciences ([16]). Small classes are the norm, with students frequently citing close professor relationships as a highlight ([18]). The interdisciplinary approach means humanities students take science courses and engineers study philosophy—no silos here ([14]).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Biology, General$41,565
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$39,585
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
This is a residential campus—92% of students live here all four years ([19]). With 130+ clubs and a strong Greek life presence (about 30% of students join fraternities or sororities), there’s no shortage of ways to fill evenings ([20], [19]). The vibe is active but not overwhelming: 'Lots of well-funded clubs that do fun stuff every week,' as one Reddit user put it ([20]). Division III athletics add to the energy, though the focus leans more toward intramurals and club sports ([19]). Diversity initiatives are visible, with cultural organizations and events regularly spotlighted ([23]).
Union punches above its weight in career results. The four-year graduation rate is 67%, rising to 81% by six years ([29]). One year post-graduation, alumni earn a median $36,427—above the national average for liberal arts colleges ([30], [26]). Notably, 96.8% of graduates are employed or in grad school within a year ([25]). The blend of liberal arts critical thinking and practical skills (especially in engineering) seems to pay off: earnings gaps widen further five years out ([26]).
Union meets 77% of students’ financial need with grants, averaging $23,211 per recipient ([35]). The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests significant aid for middle-income families, though 60% of students still take out loans ([31], [35]). Merit scholarships are available, with some awards covering up to full tuition for top applicants ([34]). While not cheap, the cost is typical for a private liberal arts college—and the career outcomes help justify the investment ([26], [30]).
Union’s hybrid identity is its superpower. Where else can you debate Kant in the morning and build a robot in the afternoon—all while knowing your professors by name? The engineering program is the stealth star, offering Ivy-level rigor without the cutthroat vibe ([17]). Campus life feels like a throwback in the best way: traditions matter, everyone sticks around on weekends, and you’ll leave with lifelong friends ([24], [19]). It’s a liberal arts college for students who want both intellectual exploration and real-world traction.
Union College logo · sourceA plan, a campus, a legacy | Union College · sourceUnion pictures: Our scenic campus | Union College · sourceUnion pictures: Our scenic campus | Union College · source
