Union College Fast Facts

Union College, founded in 1795, offers a broad range of programs in the liberal arts, sciences and engineering. One of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, Union is known for its close faculty-student interaction, small classes, interdisciplinary studies, hands-on research, and abundant social and residential options. In August 2009, the College was ranked #26 among 600 undergraduate institutions in Forbes.com’s list of America’s Best Colleges and #15 for Best Engineering Program by U.S. News & World Report.

Our Campus

Union’s idyllic 100-acre residential campus in Schenectady, N.Y., combines historic and modern architecture with gardens and natural woodlands. The 16-sided Nott Memorial is a center for art, study, symposia and special events. Union is located in the heart of the Northeast’s Tech Valley region, 15 miles from Albany, the state capital, three hours from New York City and Boston, and four hours from Montreal.

Student Body

Approximately 2,100 full-time undergraduates (51% men, 49% women) from 38 states and 34 countries.

Faculty

Student-faculty ratio of 10:1; 95% of the teaching faculty holds a doctorate or highest degree earned in their fields.

Degrees and Degree Programs

B.A. and B.S. degrees granted. Union also offers a Leadership in Medicine program with Albany Medical College and Union Graduate College; the Law and Public Policy program with Albany Law School; and five-year bachelor’s/M.B.A. or bachelor’s/M.A.T. programs with Union Graduate College.

Class Size

Average introductory class has 20 students; average upper level class, 15.

Majors and Programs

36 majors, double majors, combined majors and minors, as well as interdepartmental and multidisciplinary concentrations. Students may also design their own program of study or enroll in a dual degree program. All students select courses from four divisions: Humanities (17% of majors at Union), Social Sciences (37%), Sciences (includes psychology, 31%), Engineering and Computer Science (11%), and Interdisciplinary and Area Studies (4%). Most students take three courses in each of the three 10-week terms that comprise Union’s academic year.

Honor Societies

14 academic honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, the first chapter established in New York (1817) and the fifth oldest in the nation.

Off-Campus Study

More than 60 percent of Union students participate in a study-abroad or away experience in dozens of countries and several states, usually for one term. Most programs are led by Union faculty. The trimester calendar also provides opportunities for extended terms, mini-terms, formal exchanges, research trips and independent study.

Athletics

Comprehensive program with 25 varsity intercollegiate sports, organized intramurals and dozens of club sports, recreational and fitness offerings. Member of the NCAA, Liberty League and ECAC Hockey. Men’s and women’s ice hockey compete in NCAA Division I programs; other teams are Division III.

Student Life

Union’s seven student-run Minerva Houses are lively hubs for intellectual, social and residential activities that bring together students, faculty and staff. More than 100 student clubs and organizations provide venues for a range of interests, and 17 Greek organizations offer other options for social and service engagement.

Residence Life

90 percent of all students live in residence halls or college-owned houses, including traditional dorms, Minerva Houses, theme houses, fraternity and sorority houses, apartments and townhouses and College Park Hall, a renovated hotel.

Cultural Activities

Full schedule of campus arts and cultural events includes lectures, concerts, theater and dance productions, guest speakers, several film series, and art, science and history exhibits in the Mandeville Gallery. The nationally recognized Chamber Music Series, free to the Union community, presents world renowned musicians in concert. The College co-sponsors Art Night Schenectady, a monthly arts showcase. Various academic departments sponsor excursions to cultural events in New York City and other locales.

Community Service

The Kenney Community Center offers ways to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer income tax service and numerous mentoring programs with local schoolchildren. Sororities, fraternities, athletic teams, and many theme houses and clubs also sponsor civic projects.

Research Opportunities

Union is a leader in undergraduate research. Students across all academic departments have opportunities to work one-on-one with their professors; they often co-author publications and deliver papers at conferences. Many participate in summer research, internships at facilities like GE’s Global Research Center and Albany Medical College, study abroad programs and Union’s Steinmetz Symposium. Union regularly sends one of the largest contingents of students to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

Career Development

The Becker Career Center helps students with everything from self-assessment and career planning to the internship, job and graduate school search process. About a third of graduating seniors go directly to graduate or professional school. The College has been cited for giving graduates one of the top salary earnings potential among liberal arts colleges in the country.

Admissions & Financial Aid

More than 4,800 applicants seek freshman class positions; about half are in the top 10% of their secondary school class. Admissions counselors look at the prospective student’s grades, quality of courses, class rank, recommendations and extracurriculars. 64% of all students receive financial assistance. In the Class of 2013, the average need-based scholarship is $27,000.

Computing Facilities

The Union network connects more than 1,500 College-owned personal computers and workstations, all academic buildings, the library and all residence halls to the campus-wide information system and the Internet.

Safety

Campus Safety officers are on duty 24/7. Other personal safety measures include a blue light emergency alert system; key pad locks for residences and Minerva Houses; the Union Trolley and walking escorts; new security cameras, improved campus lighting and public address system in 22 campus buildings; and a comprehensive emergency notification system.

Alumni

The College’s 22,000 alumni have made their mark in every field and profession, from the arts and academia to business, engineering, law and medicine. Their talents and leadership have helped shape society in important ways for more than two centuries, and their active participation in alumni events and campus life continues to enrich the student experience.