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Skidmore College Lafayette College St Lawrence University Trinity College Colgate Dickinson College RPI SPU Hamilton College Hobart William Smith Colleges Bucknell Vassar| Union College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Union College | PLU | ||
| Location | Schenectady, NY | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,107 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #76 | #311 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | union.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Union College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,603 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,603 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,768 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,136 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,530 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 99% |
Admission |
Union College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,458 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 3,934 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 46.5% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1310/1490 | 1253/1423 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Union College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Union College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 86% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $74,200 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $266 |
Diversity |
Union College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 55% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 45% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Union College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Union College | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Union College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 2,107 students)
Union College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Union College or PLU?
- Union College is 28.6% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($63,603.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.6% higher at Union College than Pacific Lutheran University ($63,603.00 vs. $49,472.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Union College ($24,825 vs. $41,136)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 33.3% lower than costs at Union College ($11,826 vs. $15,768)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Union College (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 3% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($37,530 vs. $36,435)
Union College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Union College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Union College .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Union College (3.5)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Union College (46.5%)
Union College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Union College or PLU? 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 PLU and Union College.
- The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (86% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Union College earn on average $21,900 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
- More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/