Union College vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Union College or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Union College or USC Aiken is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Union College vs. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Union College University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Union College
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Overview

Union College USC Aiken
Location Barbourville, KY Aiken, SC
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 970 3,840
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #888
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unionky.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Union College USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $28,737 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $28,737 $20,856
Room & Board $8,261 $8,376
Avg Net Price $18,221 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $23,168 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Union College USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,142 2,453
Admitted 610 1,855
Acceptance Rate 53.4% 75.6%
Enrolled % 32.8% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.15 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 18/24
SAT Range 955/1148 950/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Union College USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Union College USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 32% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,800 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $268

Diversity

Union College USC Aiken
% Men 57% 36%
% Women 43% 64%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 58%
% Black 12% 27%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Union College USC Aiken
% In-State 58% 87%
% Out-of-State 28% 11%

Campus

Union College USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Union College based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 970 students)

Union College vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or USC Aiken?

  • Union College is 176.4% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($28,737.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at Union College than University of South Carolina Aiken ($28,737.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Union College ($11,872 vs. $18,221)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 1.4% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Aiken ($8,261 vs. $8,376)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Union College as University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 134.2% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($23,168 vs. $9,891)

Union College vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or Union College .

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Aiken (976) is 6 points higher than at Union College (970)
  • Incoming Union College students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman USC Aiken students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Union College (3.15)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than Union College (53.4%)

Union College vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Union College or USC Aiken? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC Aiken and Union College.

  • The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Union College (41% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $4,800 more per year than Union College graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $34,800)
  • Union College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Union College graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/