BU vs. Union College

Deciding between Boston University 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 University
Union College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 University than Union College ($24,420 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 10.6% lower than at Boston University ($17,010 vs. $19,020).
  • Union College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $937 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Union College than at Boston University (about $937 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Boston University (96% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 45.4% larger than aid received by Union College students ($61,848 vs. $42,534).

BU vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 80 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Union College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 13.9% at Union College.

BU vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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).

  • Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Union College and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Union College and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

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.