Union College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Union College is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (2,065 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Union College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Union College ($15,574 vs. $42,137).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (96% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 282.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($42,534 vs. $11,121).

Union College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and Union College.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Union College (1400) is 220 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Union College 1310/1480; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Union College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union College - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Union College (43.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Union College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union College and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 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.