Northeastern vs. Union College

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern University
Union College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Union College 9:1.

Northeastern vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern University than Union College ($34,207 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 13.1% lower than at Northeastern University ($17,010 vs. $19,580).
  • Union College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $2,877 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Union College than at Northeastern University (about $2,877 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Northeastern University (96% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Union College students ($50,421 vs. $42,534).

Northeastern vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 90 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Northeastern vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Union College graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Union College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($279 vs. $288).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 79%)

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.