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SelectiveProfile current for 2026-2027

Union College acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Union College is a private college in New York that admits roughly 44% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Your odds at Union College
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Union College weighs, where it ranks among New York schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1400, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
44%
Selective
SAT middle 50%
1310-1480
of admitted students
Type
Private
Schenectady, NY
Average net price
$34,561
per year after aid

What do students study at Union College?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Social Sciences · 105 (23.2%)Engineering · 89 (19.6%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 65 (14.3%)Psychology · 40 (8.8%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 32 (7.1%)Computer and Information Sciences · 26 (5.7%)History · 16 (3.5%)Business, Management and Marketing · 15 (3.3%)English Language and Literature · 13 (2.9%)Physical Sciences · 13 (2.9%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 11 (2.4%)

Will I get into Union College?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Union College, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Union College?

At Union College, your real chance depends on far more than the published 44% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Union College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Union College hard to get into?

Union College is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 44% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Union College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Union College, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Union College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Union College →

Your chances at Union College by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Union College for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Union College with a 3.5 GPA and a 1400 SAT?

About 69% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1400 SAT, the middle of Union College's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1480 SAT comes out near 86%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Union College by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 131025th pctSAT 1400middleSAT 148075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.931%Target40%Target49%Likely28%Target
3.245%Likely55%Likely64%Likely45%Likely
3.559%Likely69%Likely76%Safety62%Likely
3.873%Safety80%Safety86%Safety77%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/union-college.

How to get into Union College

Built from Union College's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Getting into Union College comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Union College carries about a 3.52 core GPA and a 1430 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1310 to 1480 SAT (29 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1395 or higher; below 1310, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Union College weighs

Union College rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Union College's exact dates at www.union.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Union College →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.union.edu ↗

How many students apply to Union College, and how many get in?

9,295 students applied to Union College for fall 2023; 4,070 were admitted (43.8%). 550 enrolled. Only about 14% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Union College enrolls about 2,046 undergraduates in total, 47% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Applied
9,295
fall 2023
Admitted
4,070
43.8% of applicants
Enrolled
550
14% yield
Undergraduates
2,046
Schenectady, small city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Union College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Union College scored between 1310 and 1480 on the SAT (average 1395). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 29 to 33. A score above 1480 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1310 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Union College is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1310-1480
average 1395
ACT middle 50%
29-33
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Union College looks for

What Union College weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Union College signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Union College's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Union College

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Union College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1400 SAT →Colleges for a 31 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Union College cost after financial aid?

Union College's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $84,561 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $69,039. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,561 a year, and it ranges from $11,776 for families earning under $30,000 to $45,017 for families earning over $110,000. 14% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$84,561
per year, before aid
Average net price
$34,561
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
14%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$11,776
$30k to $48k$16,415
$48k to $75k$23,941
$75k to $110k$34,100
Over $110k$45,017

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Union College graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Union College student who received federal aid earns $88,604 a year, up from $63,219 at six years. 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 90% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $25,337; 44% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$88,604
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
80%
within six years
Retention
90%
return for year two
Median debt
$25,337
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Union College compares in New York

Union College ranks #11 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.

Among the 59 New York schools we track, Union College ranks #11 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Columbia University (4%) and Cornell University (9%) sit nearby, which makes New York a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Columbia University
4%acceptance · NY
Cornell University
9%acceptance · NY
New York University
9%acceptance · NY
U.S. Military Academy
12%acceptance · NY
Colgate University
14%acceptance · NY
Hamilton College
14%acceptance · NY
Vassar College
19%acceptance · NY
Skidmore College
21%acceptance · NY
See all New York schools →

Similar to Union College

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Union College is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Texas Christian University, Morehouse College, and Occidental College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Texas Christian University
44%acceptance · TX
Morehouse College
44%acceptance · GA
Occidental College
44%acceptance · CA
Point University
44%acceptance · GA
Furman University
43%acceptance · SC
Loyola Marymount University
45%acceptance · CA

Frequently asked questions

What is Union College's acceptance rate?

Union College admitted 4,070 of 9,295 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 43.8% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 14% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Union College?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1310 to 1480 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1480 is in the top quarter of admits. Union College is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Union College test-optional?

Yes. Union College reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Union College cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Union College, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $34,561 a year against a sticker price of about $84,561. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,776 on average.

What do Union College graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Union College are $88,604 a year among students who received federal aid, and 80% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Union College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Union College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Union College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Union College's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Union College?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Union College specifically.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.