Union College (NY)

Union's comprehensive fee, which includes tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees, is $71,385 for the 2019-20 academic year. The estimated cost for books and personal expenses is $2,000.

Union is committed to admitting an economically diverse student body and to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students. Its comprehensive financial aid program includes more than $75 million in aid from Union's own resources and from federal, state, institutional and other agencies. The College offers more than $53 million annually in the form of grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid. Scholarship awards are based on academic performance and financial need. The average need-based financial aid package is $46,200; need-based aid is evaluated annually. First-year applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to top applicants each year based on academic credentials. The average merit package is $14,500. Students who demonstrate financial need are offered a financial aid package that generally consists of a grant, loan and work opportunity. More than 60 percent of students receive financial assistance from the College. Candidates for aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service's PROFILE form by Jan. 15; Early Decision (ED) candidates must file by the ED application deadline.

In addition, the College offers Making U Possible grants to students who apply for financial aid but who otherwise would not qualify for need-based aid or would qualify for only minimal amounts. Families who have an EFC – as measured through the CSS Profile – up to $50,000 (average family income of $100,000) can expect a minimum of $30,000 in grant and scholarship assistance. Families with an EFC between $50,000 and $90,000 (incomes as high as $250,000) would be eligible for a minimum of $20,000.

Designed by Joseph-Jacques Ramée, the campus includes the 16-sided Nott Memorial, a historic landmark, and Jackson's Garden, a certified natural wildlife habitat. Union is located on 130 acres in the revitalized city of Schenectady, part of New York's Capital Region. Steps from campus, the city features a lively mix of restaurants, cafés, shops, theaters and a popular weekly greenmarket. The region's rich cultural heritage, thriving high-tech industry and diverse economy offer opportunities for student/faculty research, internships and jobs. Union is a 20-minute drive from Albany International Airport and a short walk or drive from the Schenectady bus and train stations. It is within easy reach of New York City (a 3-hour drive), Boston (3 hours), Montreal (4 hours), and rural and wilderness areas.

Union recently completed the largest and most ambitious project in its history – a $100 million makeover and expansion of its science and engineering center. A centerpiece of the striking new Integrated Science and Engineering Complex is Ainlay Hall, an arc-shaped building featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a four-story lightwell that allows individuals to glimpse the work of various disciplines. It is home to labs and classrooms for biology, chemistry, engineering (biomedical, computer, electrical and mechanical), physics and astronomy, and psychology.

The Peter Irving Wold Center, an interdisciplinary hub, offers leading-edge programs in biochemistry and environmental studies. Housed here are a robotics lab with high-speed, high-precision 3D motion capture system; an aerogel lab; and our research-oriented Makerspaces, where students innovate through 3D design, printing, modeling and scanning. The Imagine Lab is stocked with virtual, augmented and mixed reality tools for student and faculty use across all disciplines. The Castrucci Gallery displays artworks and objects at the intersection of visual arts and science.

The Center for Neuroscience in Butterfield Hall brings together computer and research labs, classrooms and collaborative spaces. The F.W. Olin Center houses the Union Observatory and the Geology Department.

The Nott Memorial is used for study, exhibits and special events, including the annual Study Abroad Fair, the Lothridge Festival of Dance, and guest lectures by such noted figures as U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, architect Maya Lin, environmentalist Bill McKibben, activist Cornel West and journalist Bob Woodward.

Schaffer Library has over 1 million print and electronic volumes and more than 11,000 current print and electronic serial titles. Union also participates in the ConnectNY consortium, giving users access to the holdings of 14 other member libraries. The College Archives, Language Lab, Special Collections and Writing Center are also housed at Schaffer Library.

Karp Hall houses the departments of English, and Modern Languages and Literature. Lippman Hall is home to the Social Sciences, including Economics, History, Political Science and Sociology. Lamont House is home to Anthropology, Classics and Philosophy, and the Religious Studies program.

The Feigenbaum Center for Visual Arts includes studios for drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, 2D and 3D design, and metal-working, as well as a media lab, traditional dark room, public galleries and classrooms. Other arts facilities include the Mandeville Gallery and Wikoff Student Gallery, both in the Nott Memorial; the all-Steinway Taylor Music Center; the Yulman Theater, home to Mountebanks, the nation's oldest student performing group; and the Henle Dance Pavilion. Union's Kelly Adirondack Center in nearby Niskayuna houses one of the largest research collections focused on the Adirondack region.

Residential options for students include traditional dorms, apartment-style housing, theme houses, Minerva Houses, Greek houses, College Park Hall and Garnet Commons. Reamer Campus Center includes dining facilities, the bookstore and offices for student activities.

Among the athletic facilities are Alumni Gymnasium, which features the Breazzano Fitness Center, a swimming/diving pool, and exercise and yoga studios. Other recreational and sports facilities include the 3,000-seat Messa Rink at Achilles Center, home of Union's Div. I hockey teams, and the Travis J. Clark '00 Strength Training Facility for varsity athletes. The men's and women's crew teams train at the College's boathouse on the Mohawk River. The Wicker Wellness Center offers professional health, wellness and counseling services and is the home of the campus therapy dogs.

The Becker Career Center helps students align their personal passions with their academic and professional pursuits, and it works with employers and alumni to guide students in competing effectively in today's job market. Students can connect with alumni in all fields through the Union Career Advisory Network (UCAN). Handshake, the center's comprehensive career services platform, is the hub for all things college to career – internship and job postings, career fairs, events, career center appointments and more. Students regularly meet potential employers at campus career and internship fairs and other events. Ninety-eight percent of new Union graduates are employed or pursuing an advanced degree or fellowship.

Union offers more than 58 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.