At $36,000/yr net price, Union College graduates earn $88,604/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $54,604/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $36,000 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $144,000 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $88,604/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$54,604/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,337 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,257/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,506/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,768/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,376/yr |
| $110,001+ | $48,517/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $76,460 | |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,812 | $27,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $63,392 | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor | $59,124 | $27,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $58,673 | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $41,565 | $21,500 |
| Physical Sciences, Other. | Bachelor | $39,909 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $39,585 | $24,500 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $35,060 |
The Risk Factor
85.3% of students at Union College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Union College gives you a strong financial return, with median earnings a decade out beating what most graduates carry in debt by more than three to one. An 85% graduation rate and 89% retention mean you are likely to finish, which is the first requirement for any degree to pay off. The risk of borrowing and dropping out before you earn the credential is low here.
Your major matters a lot. Computer and information sciences graduates out-earn mechanical engineering graduates by roughly $9,000 a year, and both beat economics. The engineering and CS programs are where the money is at Union. Economics pays the least of the top five earners while still carrying the same $27,000 debt load as the engineering degrees, so it is the weakest deal among the strong programs. Union does not report earnings for its humanities and social science majors here, so treat those as unknown financially before you commit.
The main risk is the sticker price. At $36,000 a year net average, and $48,517 for families earning over $110,000, this is a full-freight private college. If you pay that top-tier price and pick a lower-paying major, the math turns against you fast.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families sharply. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $15,500 a year, less than a third of what high-income families pay. That makes Union a genuinely affordable choice at the bottom of the income scale and an expensive one at the top.
Union is a good fit if you plan to study engineering, computer science, or economics, or if your family income falls below $48,000. If you are aiming for a lower-earning field and paying near the full $48,517, look harder at the return before you enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Union College worth the high cost?
Union College costs $36,000 annually after aid but graduates earn $88,604 ten years out, putting it in the middle range for ROI among private colleges. The 85% graduation rate is solid, though debt levels around $25,000 mean you need to pick your major carefully.
What are the best paying majors at Union College?
Computer science graduates from Union College earn around $76,460, while mechanical engineering pays $67,812. Liberal arts majors typically see much lower returns, so STEM fields offer the clearest path to justify the tuition.
How much debt do Union College students typically graduate with?
Union College graduates carry a median debt of $25,337, which is manageable if you land in a well-paying field like engineering or computer science. Students in lower-earning majors may struggle to make payments on this debt load.
Does Union College provide enough financial aid to make it affordable?
Union College brings the sticker price down to around $36,000 per year after financial aid. This is still expensive for most families, and you should compare this net price against earnings potential in your chosen field before committing.