Union College vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Union College in Schenectady, NY with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Union College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (2,065 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Union College is located in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Union College 9:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Union College vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver than Union College ($18,581 vs. $42,137).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 14.9% lower than at Union College ($14,474 vs. $17,010).
• Union College is 379.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $54,631 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 186.1% higher at Union College than at Penn State Beaver (about $44,905 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Penn State Beaver (96% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 370.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($42,534 vs. $9,045).

Union College vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and Union College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Union College (1400) is 210 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Union College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 1310/1480; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 29/33; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union College - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Union College (43.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Union College vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union College and Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Penn State Beaver graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)

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.