CCS vs. Union College

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI with Union College in Schenectady, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Union College is larger than CCS based on total student enrollment (2,065 students vs. 1,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CCS vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS 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 College for Creative Studies than Union College ($36,055 vs. $42,137).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College for Creative Studies are 10.2% lower than at Union College ($15,272 vs. $17,010).
• Union College is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCS (about $15,689 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $53,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at Union College than at College for Creative Studies (about $15,689 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $53,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College for Creative Studies than at Union College (98% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 41.3% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($42,534 vs. $30,108).

CCS vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCS 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 CCS.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUnion College 1310/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUnion College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - Test-free; Union College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CCS (3.19).
• CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Union College (43.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at CCS vs. 13.9% at Union College.

CCS vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS 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 College for Creative Studies's (57%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $28,100 more per year than CCS graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Union College and CCS graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Union College and CCS 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 CCS students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 60%)

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.