Union College vs. Penn State

Union College and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Union College
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Union College (43.9% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1400 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $42,137 at Union College.
  • Graduation: Union College 86% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Union College $74,200 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Union College Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Union College more selective
Union College43.9%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Union College higher
Union College1310-1480
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Penn State $14,248 less
Union College$42,137
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $48,395 less
Union College$69,039
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $27,249 less
Union College$69,039
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +1 pts
Union College86%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Union College +$18,900
Union College$74,200
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Union College 8,210
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Union College 3,606
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Union College 1400
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Union College 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Union College 3.5
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Union College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Union College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Union College 1310-1480
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Union College 29-33
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Union College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Union College $69,039
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Union College $69,039
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Union College $17,010
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Union College $42,137
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Union College $42,534
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Union College 96%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Union College 86%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Union College $74,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Union College 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Union College $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Union College $279
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Union College 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Union College Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Union College 2,065
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Union College #84
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Union College in Schenectady, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,065 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Union College is located in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Union College 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 14.9% lower than at Union College ($14,474 vs. $17,010).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.2% higher at Union College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $27,249 more per year; $69,039 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 275.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($42,534 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Union College than at Penn State (31 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Union College and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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