We are Union, and we are true to our name. Founded in 1795 as the first planned campus in the United States, Union College is a highly selective, private, residential, liberal arts college with engineering that is consistently ranked among the nation's top colleges. Set on 100 acres in downtown Schenectady, N.Y., including eight acres of formal gardens and woodland, Union is within easy reach of New York City, Boston, Montreal, rural areas and outdoor recreation. Here, tradition meets innovation across the arts, engineering, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Union's flexible academic structure encourages students to study across disciplines and pursue what intrigues them. Its innovative curriculum and world-class facilities emphasize collaboration with students and faculty through small class sizes, research in all disciplines, internships and international study.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Susie Hanks
Director of Admissions for Programming and Partnerships
Director of Admissions for Programming and Partnerships
Address
807 Union Street
Grant Hall
Schenectady, NY 12308
Grant Hall
Schenectady, NY 12308
Phone
(518) 388-6112
Email
admissions@union.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
The Nott Memorial
Schaffer Library
Reamer Campus Center
Jackson's Garden
Wold Center for Science and Engineering
Schaffer Library
Reamer Campus Center
Jackson's Garden
Wold Center for Science and Engineering
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Proctor's Theatre
Jay Street area - restaurants, shops
MVP Arena - sporting events, concerts
Crossgates Mall
Adirondack Mountains
Located in the Capital District of New York, Schenectady boasts the amenities of a small city and the recreational opportunities of the Adirondack and Berkshire mountains.
Jay Street area - restaurants, shops
MVP Arena - sporting events, concerts
Crossgates Mall
Adirondack Mountains
Located in the Capital District of New York, Schenectady boasts the amenities of a small city and the recreational opportunities of the Adirondack and Berkshire mountains.
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday; Many Saturdays
9:00am-4:00pm; 10am-2pm
(518) 388-6112
9:00am-4:00pm; 10am-2pm
(518) 388-6112
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: No
Dates: Year-round
Times: Mon-Fri 10:30am, 12:30,1:30,&3:30pm,some Sat. 11am,noon,1pm
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times: Mon-Fri 10:30am, 12:30,1:30,&3:30pm,some Sat. 11am,noon,1pm
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
year round
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly
Advance Notice
2 weeks
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
The Albany airport is 10 miles from campus. Taxis are available at the airport for the ride to campus. The Schenectady Amtrak rail and Trailways bus stations are each less than a mile from campus. Taxi service is available.
Driving Instructions to Campus
From the south and the east:
From New York State Thruway exit 24, take the Northway (I-87) north to exit 6 (marked 'Route 7 west'). Follow Route 7 west for 6.5 miles and bear right onto Union Street. Continue on Union Street for 2.7 miles and enter the campus through Payne Gate on the right. The Admissions Office is the third building on your right as you enter campus.
From the north:
From the Northway (I-87) take exit 6 (marked 'Route 7 west'). Follow Route 7 west for 6.5 miles and bear right onto Union Street. Continue on Union Street for 2.7 miles and enter the campus through Payne Gate on the right. The Admissions Office is the third building on your right as you enter campus.
From the west:
From Thruway exit 26, take I-890 east to exit 4 (Erie Boulevard). Follow Erie Boulevard north to Union Street (second light after the Amtrak station), turn right onto Union Street, and follow for one mile. Enter the campus through Payne Gate on the left. The Admissions Office is the third building on your right as you enter campus.
Local Accommodations
Hampton Inns (167 Nott Terrace; 518-370-3297) and the Holiday Inn (100 Nott Terrace; 518-393-4141) are approx. 1/4 mile from campus and the Parker Inn (434 State Street; 518-688-1001) is within 5 minutes of campus. The Glen Sanders Mansion (One Glen Avenue; 518-374-7262) offers elegant accommodations right on the Mohawk River, three miles from campus
Save School
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
For more information on application requirements and deadlines, head to Union College's Admissions website at this link.
Overview
Applicants: 9,295
Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average HS GPA: 91.00
GPA Breakdown
24%
4.0
27%
3.75 - 3.99
21%
3.50 - 3.74
16%
3.25 - 3.49
7%
3.00 - 3.24
4%
2.50 - 2.99
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn MoreSAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
650 - 720
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
660 - 760
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1330 - 1400
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
30 - 33
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Test Optional
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 1
Early Decision II — January 15
Early Action — November 1
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Africana Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art History
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Chinese
Civil Engineering
Classics
Computer Engineering
Computer Science Creative Writing Minor
Dance
Data Analytics
Digital Media
Digital Studies
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Energy Studies
English
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Policy
Environmental Science
Environmental Science & Policy
Film Studies
Financial and Actuarial Mathematics
French
Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies
Geo-Sciences
German
Global and Popular Musics
Greek
History
Japanese
Jewish Studies
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Law and Humanities
Liberal Arts (Undecided)
Managerial Economics
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Modern Languages and Literatures
Music
Music Technology
Nanotechnology
Neuroscience
Organizing Theme
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Pre-Law
Pre-Med
Pre-Med & Combined M.D. Program
Psychology
Public History
Religious Studies
Russian
Russian and Eastern European Studies
Science, Medicine and Technology and Society
Sociology
Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Statistics
Studio Fine Arts
Theater
Visual Arts
Majors and Degrees Offered
You have lots of interests, so why choose only one? 75% of Union students study more than one field. Students can double major, add a minor (or two), create their own major or pursue one of 20+ uniquely interdisciplinary offerings. The curriculum stresses an interdisciplinary approach to the liberal arts, combining the humanities and social sciences with science and engineering. Importantly, hands-on, faculty-mentored undergraduate research is at the heart of a Union education, with over 80% of students participating. Finally, Union College partners with several other institutions to offer accelerated dual-degree programs in engineering, business, law, education, Latin American Studies, and medicine.
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
10:1
Total Faculty
228
with Terminal Degree
206
124
Men
104
Women
28
Minority
17
International
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
2 - 9
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
80%
Graduate in 5 years
84%
Graduate in 6 years
85%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African Studies.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Russian Studies.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Neuroscience.
-
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Business/Managerial Economics.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
-
ENGINEERING.
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Civil Engineering, General.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Biological and Physical Sciences.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Astronomy.
Chemistry, General.
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Physical Sciences, Other.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Social Sciences, General.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Students Say
Founded in 1795 as the first unified campus in the United States, Union College in upstate New York offers a rigorous education that integrates STEM and liberal arts. Around 2,000 undergraduates study on a trimester system, which means "you ultimately make your days how you want them to be, and you also make your own schedule." As one student says: "I love this structure...[and] I don't ever feel pushed back against the wall with work because I am able to manage my time correctly." That independence leads more than half of all students to study abroad for at least a partial term and is encouraging to those who want to do original research: roughly 80 percent do so. Benefits like the "internship courses that count as credit" and career center "[provide] students with a vast array of tools to help student break into the industry that interests them," and post-graduation, there's a "huge emphasis on alumni connections."
Overall, "the availability of undergraduate research makes it easy to get hands-on experience early," especially since there's a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio that undergrads find "very helpful in learning." Professors are specifically highlighted for the way they "work tooth and nail to give us as much as they can" while also providing "very interesting" material that will "make you want to learn more and beyond the course material." This atmosphere, filled with "an ample amount of resources," leads students to say that they feel encouraged "to explore other disciplines."
Degrees
Bachelor's
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Rich Templeton
President, CEO and Chairman of Texas Instruments
Brad Karp
Chair of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Julie G. Swidler
Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel for Sony Music Entertainment
Alan Horn
Former head of The Walt Disney Studios
Vivien G. Dugan
Director of the Influenza Division in CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Brian McNamara
CEO Haleon
Theodore W. Berger
Director for Neural Engineering and Professor at Univ. of Southern CA.
Academic Rating
89/99
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
80%
Graduate in 5 years
84%
Graduate in 6 years
85%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Information from PayScale:
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$78,500
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$153,300
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$81,200
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$162,300
Percent High Job Meaning
41%
Percent STEM
42%
Students Say
Students feel that “Union has an awesome career center that is always reaching out to students to help them with life after college with jobs, internships, resumes, etc. . . .” Indeed, the Becker Career Center is continually running professional development workshops and arranging employer information sessions, in addition to connecting students with alums via the Union Career Advisory Network (UCAN). Other students add that “there are so many resources available in terms of funding, internships, and leadership opportunities,” as well as a plethora of “undergraduate research opportunities” like the Sophomore Research Seminar or those through National Science Foundation awards. Additionally, the annual Steinmetz Symposium allows students to present their work to the entire campus community (more than 500 students do so each year). Union College graduates visiting Payscale.com report their median starting salary at around $75,200, and 47 percent report that their job has a great deal of meaning.
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
$86,049 Full cost for the academic year (in-state and out-of-state) which includes tuition, student fees, housing and a meal plan.
Financial Aid
Union College meets full demonstrated financial need. Over $60 million is awarded annually to Union students in the form of grants and scholarships. Each applicant is automatically considered for merit scholarships.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Jan 15
Notification Date
Mar 25
Required Forms
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$51,940
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$50,561
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,931
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
59%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$37,822
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$36,628
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal and Institutional
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Non-Need-Based
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
College/university loans from institutional funds
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
99/99
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
The 2,100 full-time undergraduates come from over 42 U.S. states and 58 countries. Intellectually, geographically, and demographically diverse, thirty percent of students are domestic students of color or international students. Union is known for its tight knit community, with over 90% of students living on campus all four years.
With more than 130 clubs and organizations to choose from, you're certain to find one that matches your interests or talents or simply sparks your curiosity. Organizations include performance groups and art clubs, multicultural and religious groups, the student newspaper and literary magazine, Greek organizations, academic honor societies and much more. Clubs and organizations are led by students, for students.
Union's unique Minerva program broadens students' out-of-class experience both academically and socially. All students belong to a Minerva House, seven lively hubs for academic, social, residential and leadership activities, hosting hundreds of events each year.
Union College has 24 Division III sports plus Division I men's and women's ice hockey. A third of all students participate in intercollegiate sports and Union offers extensive intramural, recreation and wellness programs.
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
2,082
Foreign Countries Represented
52
Demographics
6.90%
Asian
3.94%
Black
9.09%
Hispanic
66.26%
Caucasian
10.11%
International
45% female
55% male
68% are out of state
99% are full time
1% are part time
Students Say
People at Union "take their educational experiences and opportunities seriously" but "also know how to spend time productively outside of class." Because Union isn't an overwhelmingly large school, students fondly describe both a sense of privacy and a relative ease in which to meet up with friends across "different majors and paths" to at least grab a bite to eat. As one puts it, people here "very genuinely care about each other in all directions." Many students are athletes, which makes for "a very active campus [where] the gyms are always busy." That said, the overall atmosphere "is highly collaborative and supportive, not competitive," and "the fact that Union is a liberal arts school with engineering means you get a really good well-rounded education and you are always interacting with those outside of your major."
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Located in the Capital District of New York, Schenectady boasts the amenities of a mid-sized city, and the recreational opportunities of the Adirondack and Berkshire mountains.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
5 Makerspaces
Aerogel Lab
Ion-Beam Analysis Lab
Observatory
1.1-MV Tandem Pelletron Accelerator
400-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
Micro CT scanner
Thermal Science and Fluid Mechanics Lab
Visual Arts Center: Drawing and painting studios; printmaking and digital media labs; photography suites and darkrooms; 3D design, sculpture and metalworking studios Music Center: music technology studio; tech booth; private studio; extensive score library; Early Music Studio; World Musics Studio with hundreds of global instruments
Performing Arts Center: main theater; black box theater; actor's studio; classroom, rehearsal and lecture spaces; costume shop; scene design studio
Off-Campus Opportunities
Union offers more than 60 majors and minors. Students can conduct anthropological research in Fiji, learn about Italian Renaissance architecture in Florence, study engineering in Turkey or visit alternative energy sites in New Zealand. There are many opportunities for internships and service. Students also may design their own study abroad program, as well as participate in non-Union and exchange programs. In addition to full-term programs, three-week mini-terms are offered during winter and summer breaks in various U.S. cities and other countries. The unique Minerva Fellows program gives young alumni a chance to travel abroad their first year after leaving Union, instilling in them the power of an entrepreneurial approach to addressing poverty in developing countries.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
91%
Help finding off-campus housing
No
85/99
First-Year Students living on campus
98%
Campus Environment
Suburban
98/99
Housing Options
Apartment Single
Dorms Coed
Dorms Coed
Frat Sorority
Other
Theme Housing
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
The vast majority of students-90%-live on campus either in residence halls, one of 13 student-run theme houses, or across the street in campus-managed apartments. In addition, every student is sorted into one of seven Minerva Houses, which act as hubs for academic, social, and residential activities. Between the close quarters of their homes or houses, the school's ACE (Association for Campus Events) hosts "spectacular events every weekend," including "escape rooms, magicians, comedians, [and] painting events," though students also plan plenty of their own varied excursions, like "ski and hiking trips, movie nights, and Frisbee golf."
Since students only take three classes a term, they "have lots of free time each week," a much-appreciated boon that allows them to "study or do homework during the day and participate in clubs or activity events during lunch or in the late afternoons and evenings." This does mean that Greek life "plays a very large role in students' social lives," and "anyone who wants to be involved...can be," but it's worth noting that "you are still welcome" whether you go Greek or not.
Special Needs Admissions
Director
Laura Galt, Director of Accommodative Services
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
101
Number of Honor Societies
14
Number of Social Sororities
3
Number of Religious Organizations
11
21% join a fraternity
24% join a sorority
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
Men's Sports (Garnet Chargers)
13 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Garnet Chargers)
15 Sports
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Health
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Siena College
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Siena College
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sustainability
92/99
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food
25%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Bike Share
Yes
Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
Yes
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
No
School Developed Bicycle Plan
No
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Yes
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Apple
HP
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
No
Mental Health Website
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Program
Availability
Available for all students;
Available for faculty & staff;
Available for faculty & staff;
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
No
Please provide details on specific trainings:
Trans student mental health, LGBTQIA+ mental health, BIPOC focus care, Trauma informed therapy
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
No
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
Yes
A brief description of offerings:
We do programming starting with CA training and do continued workshops throughout the year
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
First-year students
Students required to participate
Incoming transfer students
Students required to participate
Returning students
Services offered
Entering graduate students
Not Reported
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/well-being education for students
Yes, optional
The institution offers non-credit mental health/well-being education for students
No, but plan to in the next academic year
Details of non-credit offering:
This will be a part of our UJourney program
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Yes
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
No
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Yes
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
10 months
