- Acceptance rate: 44% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 660–720 reading and writing, 650–760 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 29–33 composite
- Average net price: $42,884 a year (2022–23)
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check my GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Union College reported: an acceptance rate of 44% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 29–33.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Union College reviews each application.
Union College GPA requirements
Union College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Union College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Union College acceptance rate
Union College admitted 3,606 of 8,210 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 44%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Union College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Schenectady, New York, with 2,065 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Union College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 660 | 690 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 650 | 700 | 760 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 31 | 33 |
| ACT English | 29 | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 27 | 29 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1395 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Union College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
AP credit
Union College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $42,884 a year at Union College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Union College?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. Union College admitted 44% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How important is GPA for getting into Union College?
A lot: Union College requires high school GPA, high school record and recommendations. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider demonstration of competencies. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Union College?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Union College admitted 44% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is Union College's acceptance rate?
Union College's acceptance rate was 44% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,606 of 8,210 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Union College?
Union College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Union College test optional?
Yes. Union College considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 32% sent SAT scores and 11% sent ACT scores.
What SAT and ACT scores do Union College students have?
The middle 50% of Union College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 660–720 in reading and writing and 650–760 in math; ACT composite 29–33, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What do students pay at Union College after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $42,884 a year at Union College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Union College accept AP credit?
Yes. Union College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at Union College if a parent went there?
Yes. Union College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Union College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Union CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in New York
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Bard CollegeFairly easy · 52% admitted
- St Lawrence UniversityFairly easy · 54% admitted
- Maria College of AlbanyModerate · 44% admitted
- Russell Sage CollegeFairly easy · 53% admitted
- Yeshiva UniversityFairly easy · 56% admitted
- University of RochesterModerate · 40% admitted
See all colleges in New York →