UMass vs. Union College

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Union College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Union College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Union College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Union College $74,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Union College 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Union College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Union College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Union College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Union College 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Union College in Schenectady, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Union College 9:1.

UMass vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than Union College ($22,948 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 1.8% lower than at Union College ($16,710 vs. $17,010).
  • Union College is 288.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $51,267 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.7% higher at Union College than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $28,590 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 224.4% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($42,534 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Union College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 10 points higher than at Union College (1400).
  • Incoming UMass students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Union College (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Union College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Union College (3.5).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Union College (43.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 13.9% at Union College.

UMass vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Union College graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union College graduates ($248 vs. $279).
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

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.