Cornell vs. Union College

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Union College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than Union College ($26,361 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 12.4% lower than at Cornell University ($17,010 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Union College (about $275 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $69,039.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Cornell than at Union College (about $275 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $69,039.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Cornell University (96% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 45.2% larger than aid received by Union College students ($61,779 vs. $42,534).

Cornell vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 140 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming Cornell 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: Cornell University 1500/1570; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Cornell vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Union College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $24,200 more per year than Union College graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $74,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.