Harvard vs. Union College

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Union College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Union College 9:1.

Harvard vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Union College ($17,525 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 19.7% lower than at Harvard University ($17,010 vs. $21,190).
  • Union College is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $7,363 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at Union College than at Harvard University (about $7,363 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Harvard University (96% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 59.9% larger than aid received by Union College students ($68,015 vs. $42,534).

Harvard vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 150 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Union College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Harvard vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Union College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $62,500 more per year than Union College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $74,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 70%)

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.