Union College vs Cornell
Union College and Cornell University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Union, a liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate teaching, while Cornell, an Ivy League research university, provides a wide range of academic programs and world-class research opportunities. With Union's acceptance rate hovering around 25% and Cornell's at 10%, selectivity varies significantly. Union's student body is predominantly white and affluent, while Cornell's is more diverse. Engineering, business, and social sciences are popular majors at Cornell, while Union students often pursue liberal arts and sciences. While both institutions offer excellent education, their unique characteristics cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
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![]() Cornell University |
![]() Union College |
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Overview |
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Location | Ithaca, New York | Schenectady, New York |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 47.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
|
$60 |
SAT range | 1450 - 1560 | 1270 - 1450 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 28 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 16.0% |
Total number of applicants | 67,380 | 7,470 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,852 | 3,513 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,718 | 565 |
Yield rate | 63.5% | 16.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,287 | $77,385 |
Average net price | $24,262 | $39,101 |
Tuition | $60,286 | $61,308 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
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Room/dormitory:
$8,370
Meal plan:
$6,828
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
50.0%
Average amount $52,674 |
87.0%
Average amount $36,604 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
48.0%
Average amount $5,087 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
14.0%
Average amount $20,017 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
2,096
Men 54.9% Women 45.1% |
Graduate students |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 64.3% | N/A |
International students | 24.4% | 9.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 7,422 | 2,049 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 94.1% | 84.5% |
Dropout rate | 5.2% | 14.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 0.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
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Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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