Rutgers vs. Union College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Union College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Union College in Schenectady, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Union College 9:1.

Rutgers vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Union College ($20,522 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 7.6% lower than at Union College ($15,714 vs. $17,010).
  • Union College is 285.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $51,110 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.4% higher at Union College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $31,598 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (96% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 154.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($42,534 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 10 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming Union College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Union College (43.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Rutgers vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 68%)

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.