BC vs. Union College

Deciding between Boston College and Union College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston College
Union College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BC Yes
  • Union College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BC No
  • Union College No
  • Meal Plan
  • BC Yes
  • Union College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BC No
  • Union College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BC Yes
  • Union College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Union College in Schenectady, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston College is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Union College 9:1.

BC vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC or Union College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than Union College ($32,519 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 10.1% lower than at Boston College ($17,010 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Union College (about $1,663 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $69,039.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at BC than at Union College (about $1,663 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $69,039.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Boston College (96% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 33.9% larger than aid received by Union College students ($56,971 vs. $42,534).

BC vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC or Union College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Union College and BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 90 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming BC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Union College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 13.9% at Union College.

BC vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC and Union College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Union College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than Union College graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $74,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.