Union College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Union College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 43%. Founded in 1795 and located in Schenectady, New York, Union College was the first college chartered by the Board of Regents in New York State. Union students take courses in a Common Curriculum and can choose from over 45 degree programs. Union has a 10-to-1 student / faculty ratio, and for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, the school earned a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. In athletics, the Union College Dutchmen primarily compete in the NCAA Division III Liberty League and in the Division I ECAC Conference Hockey League.

Considering applying to Union College? Here are are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Union College had an acceptance rate of 43%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 43 students were admitted, making Union College's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Union College has a test-optional standardized testing policy for most students. Applicants to Union College may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 59% of admitted students submitted SAT scores .Note that homeschooled students and those applying for the Leadership in Medicine program or the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program are required to submit standardized test scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Union College's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Union College scored between 600 and 680, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 680. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 620 and 740, while 25% scored below 620 and 25% scored above 740. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1420 or higher is competitive for Union College.

Requirements

Union College does not require SAT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Union College participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Note that applicants to the Leadership in Medicine program are required to submit the SAT essay section and SAT Subject tests.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Union College has a test-optional standardized testing policy for most students. Applicants to Union College may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 23% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. Note that homeschooled students and those applying for the Leadership in Medicine program or the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program are required to submit standardized test scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Union College's admitted students fall within the top 15% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Union College received a composite ACT score between 27 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 27.

Requirements

Note that Union College does not require ACT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, Union College participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Except for applicants to the Leadership in Medicine program, Union does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming Union College freshmen was 3.5, and over 27% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Union College have primarily high B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Union College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Union College, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool with high average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs. However, Union College also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Union strongly recommends interviews for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Union College's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent students who were admitted to Union College. Most had SAT scores of 1200 or higher, an ACT composite of 25 or higher, and a high school average of a "B+" or better. The majority of admitted students had grades in the "A" range. Note that standardized test scores matter less than grades because Union has test-optional admissions.

If You Like Union College, You May Also Like These Schools

• Skidmore College
• Tufts University
• Trinity College
• Hobart & William Smith Colleges
• Cornell University
• Bates College
• Alfred University
• Vassar College
• Binghamton University
• Syracuse University
• Stony Brook University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Union College Undergraduate Admissions Office.