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Union College

Academics

Union College is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1795. In 2011, Union College was ranked among the 50 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges. The school year is split into trimesters and students have an extended winter break. Class sizes are very small, with a student to faculty ratio of 11:1. Departments at Union include Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering & Computer Science, and Multidisciplinary Studies. The most popular majors at this school are Political Science & Government, Psychology, Economics, History, and Biological Sciences. Students can design their own majors. 60% of Union students participate in a study abroad or international travel experience.

Union College also offers accelerated professional degree programs with its partner schools. Students can graduate from Albany Law School in 6 years or get a medical degree from Albany Medical College in 8 years. There are accelerated master

Most Popular Fields of Study

Information Summary

Ranks 5th in New York and 33rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about) 98.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance $70,860
Admission Success rate N/A
SAT 75%ile scores 1400
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty 11 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time) 95% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students) 2,197

Unique Programs

A few years ago, Union College implemented a new system of on-campus housing because Greek life was dominating the social environment on campus. The administration created and funded a non-residential “house system,” where all freshmen are randomly assigned to one of 7 Minerva Houses. The houses are student and faculty residence communities where students live, take classes, and participate in extracurricular activities. Each house has its own student council, which is elected each year by the house members and is led by a faculty member and a student representative.

Gallery

building :: Union College field :: Union College
Nott Memorial :: Union College

Admissions

Admission to Union College is more selective. Applicants can use the common application. Online applications require no fee. The Early Decision deadline is November 15, while the Regular Decision and Early Decision II application deadlines are on January 15. Applicants must submit official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and an essay, but standardized testing is optional.

Transfer students may apply to any of the school’s trimesters. The deadline for fall term applications is May 1, the deadline for winter term applications is November 1, and Spring term applications must be submitted by February 1. Transfer students and international students may need to use different procedures, so they should refer to the website or contact the Office of Admissions for more information about the admissions process.

Financial Aid

Union College offers a financial aid program that includes more than $40 million in aid from the school itself as well as from federal, state, institutional and other organizations. More than $32 million in scholarships directly from the school are awarded each year. More than 60% of the students at Union College receive some form of financial aid. Financial assistance comes in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study. The Financial Aid Office, which is located on the third floor of Grant Hall on the Union campus, provides information and assistance with the financial aid application process. Students and their families are encouraged to contact the office for help or guidance.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2308th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in New York.

Students

Each of the apartment-style Minerva Houses has special events such as parties, movie nights, and coffee houses. Each house also has a fully equipped kitchen so that students can prepare their own meals. Theme houses allow students who share a particular interest to live together.

Some popular places where students relax include the Jackson

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Union College

Traditions

Every year, Union has an event called the Steinmetz Symposium, during which classes are canceled and hundreds of students present their academic, research, or creative projects. Also, students celebrate the changing seasons each year at Springfest, which is a day of concerts that features celebrity performers like Sean Kingston and Matt Nathanson.

Alumni

  • Chester A. Arthur, 21st President of the United States
  • Kate White, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine
  • Richard Templeton, CEO of Texas Instruments
  • Baruch Samuel Blumberg, Nobel-prize winning doctor who discovered the Hepatitis B virus.
  • Alan Horn, producer of Seinfeld and the Harry Potter movies
  • Rawson Marshall Thurber, director of Dodgeball and Magnum, P.I.
  • Ilene Landress, executive producer of The Sopranos

Additional School Information

Union College

Bibliography

  • Gordon, Lily, and Aaron Edelstein. Union College: Off the Record. Pittsburgh: College Prowler, 2005.
  • Union College. Union College. 2011. Web. 9 May 2011.

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