Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Union College #930 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $81,583, placing Union College in the 87.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Union College sits in the 23.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Union College #930 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 36.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Schenectady, NY, Union College enrolls roughly 2,046 undergraduates. Retention is 90.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 80.4%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Union College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Union College #354 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 76.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $81,583, placing Union College in the 87.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $9,013 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Union College in the 23.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Union College enrolls 14.4% Pell-eligible students and 13.0% first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective admissions posture that limits the breadth of low-income access. Union College sits in the 33.3 percentile for access and the 6.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes rank in the 58.8 percentile. For admitted students, the institution's financial aid policies and net pricing structure shape the affordability experience — details explored in the affordability section and the Financial GPS tool.
Union College's published cost of attendance is $84,561. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $11,776, middle-income families pay around $23,941, and higher-income families pay approximately $45,017. Azimuth ranks Union College #1334 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Union College's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the breadth of that commitment varies by income level — a pattern common in the Azimuth coverage set with selective admissions and moderate endowment resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,337, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $57,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,583, median federal debt of $25,337 projects to a monthly payment of about $286 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Union College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences who want a private liberal arts college experience in Schenectady, NY. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $81,583, placing Union College in the 87.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $9,013 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Union College in the 23.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 14.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 13.0% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Union College in the 99.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Union College's program portfolio is concentrated in Social Sciences — students interested in these fields will find strong earnings outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 43.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Union College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business/Managerial Economics
11 graduates
Economics
98 graduates
Biology, General
46 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
20 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
40 graduates
Union College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, a signature that shapes both the institution's academic identity and graduate outcomes. The largest programs by enrollment include Economics with 98 graduates, Political Science with 47 graduates, and Biology, General with 46 graduates.
Across 27 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, creating a portfolio that balances breadth with focused strength in quantitative and analytical fields. The highest-earning programs at Union College reflect the institution's emphasis on applied social sciences and professional preparation.
Economics leads with median earnings of $99,783 four years after enrollment across 98 graduates, followed by Biology, General with $87,208 and Biomedical/Medical Engineering with $86,182. These programs cluster in fields where graduates enter the workforce directly—business, economics, engineering, and finance—rather than pursuing graduate or professional school.
The earnings pattern reflects strong employer demand in the Northeast and the institution's location in a region with robust financial services and technology sectors. Union College's program-mix distribution across Social Sciences (accounting for 29% of graduates), Engineering (14%), and other STEM fields (5%) creates a distinctive profile for a private liberal arts–oriented institution.
The concentration in social sciences and professional fields supports both the institution's career-focused positioning and the earnings outcomes visible in the top programs. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marist College Higher acceptance rate (20.9 percentage points higher) and located 76 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 65% | $77,819 | Compare |
Siena College Higher acceptance rate (26.8 percentage points higher) and located 11 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 71% | $76,079 | Compare |
Clarkson University Higher acceptance rate (33.4 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | NY | 77% | $89,696 | Compare |
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (42.6 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Colgate University Same state (81 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | NY | 12% | $85,139 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edgewood College Similar quality tier (#25963 ranked) | WI | 76% | $59,728 | #25963 | Compare |
Belhaven University Similar quality tier (#25966 ranked) | MS | 50% | $46,440 | #25966 | Compare |
Midamerica Nazarene University Similar quality tier (#25967 ranked) | KS | 79% | $62,972 | #25967 | Compare |
Walsh University Similar quality tier (#25969 ranked) | OH | 71% | $59,764 | #25969 | Compare |
Macalester College Similar quality tier (#25970 ranked) | MN | 29% | $63,878 | #25970 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Union College's published cost of attendance is $84,561. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $11,776, middle-income families pay around $23,941, and higher-income families pay approximately $45,017.
Azimuth ranks Union College #1334 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Union College's aid structure is need-based, with demonstrated financial need met through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the breadth of that commitment varies by income level — a pattern common in the Azimuth coverage set with selective admissions and moderate endowment resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,337, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $57,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,583, median federal debt of $25,337 projects to a monthly payment of about $286 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Union College earn median 4-year earnings of $81,583, placing Union College in the 87.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $9,013 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Union College in the 23.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Union College #354 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Union College's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields. Economics is the largest program with 98 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $99,783, delivering 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
The Political Science program graduates 47 students with median 4-year earnings of $75,005, while Biology, General and Research Psychology round out the top programs with 46 and 40 graduates respectively. The institution's program mix, anchored by Social Sciences at 29%, alongside Engineering at 14% and other STEM fields at 5%, supports consistent long-term outcomes across a mixed enrollment.
