Union College
Union College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1795 in Schenectady, NY, serving undergraduate students through 62+ areas of study spanning humanities, sciences, and ABET-accredited engineering programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1795
- HeadquartersSchenectady, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Union College does
Union College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1795 and located in Schenectady, New York. It serves traditional-age undergraduate students through more than 62 areas of study spanning the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering, with ABET-accredited BS programs in biomedical, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Julie Greifer Swidler '79, with Elizabeth Kiss serving as President and chief executive. Students engage in undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, and experiential learning supported by more than 130 clubs and organizations.
The college operates a layered technology ecosystem built around Nexus, a Moodle-based LMS with LTI integrations to Perusall, Gradescope, Turnitin, Panopto, Zoom, and Google Assignments. Supporting infrastructure includes the MakerWeb makerspace network (3D Print, Imagine, Laser Cutting, CNC, and Make labs), the Digital Studio for media production, the Learning Design and Digital Innovation (LDDI) team, Digital Scholarship (DSi) services in Schaffer Library, and high-performance research computing via AWS and MGHPCC. Enterprise systems include Ellucian Colleague for student information and Workday for payroll, benefits, and finance. Generative AI tools (Google Gemini, NotebookLM) are available for faculty course design, and 130+ clubs and the annual Steinmetz Symposium (500+ participants) signal strong faculty engagement with undergraduate research.
The revenue model is tuition-driven: students pay tuition and fees through the Bursar's office, with financial aid distributed as grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. Additional revenue is generated through alumni giving and donations managed by the development office, and through sponsored research and grants from federal agencies (NASA, Department of Defense) and private foundations. Distribution is primarily domestic undergraduate admissions with international recruitment and study-abroad-supported global reach, and program delivery is concentrated at the single Schenectady campus. The latest strategic moves include partnerships with the University of Rochester's Simon Business School (4+1 pathway), Credly (microcredentials), and the Cornell-led NYCST aerospace research consortium.
Union College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Union College
- Legal name
- Trustees of Union College
- Website
- https://union.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1795
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Union College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1795 in Schenectady, NY, serving undergraduate students through 62+ areas of study spanning humanities, sciences, and ABET-accredited engineering programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Union College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts-Integrated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAO), Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led) (EDAHACAL)
Keywords
Where Union College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schenectady
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Union College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Union College generates revenue primarily through student tuition and fees. The college offers financial aid programs including grants, scholarships, and loans to support student enrollment. Students pay tuition based on their program of study and residency status.
- Alumni Giving and Donations: The college receives contributions from alumni and donors through its giving programs, supporting scholarships, facilities, and academic initiatives. The development office manages fundraising campaigns and donor relations.
- Sponsored Research and Grants: Union College receives federal and state grants for research, including support from agencies like NASA, Department of Defense, and various foundations for academic research programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard undergraduate tuition for degree-seeking students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Union College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Union College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college that delivers residential undergraduate education across 62+ areas of study spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering (including ABET-accredited programs in biomedical, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering). The college supplements its core degree programs with accelerated graduate pathways, microcredentials in personal finance/AI/Excel, undergraduate research, study abroad, MakerWeb fabrication labs, and Digital Studio media production, all delivered primarily at its Schenectady, New York campus.
Product overview
Union College operates as a liberal arts and engineering institution offering a technology ecosystem centered on its Learning Management System Nexus (Moodle), supplemented by digital learning tools including Digital Studio for media production, MakerWeb makerspaces for fabrication, the Learning Design and Digital Innovation (LDDI) team for faculty development, and Digital Scholarship (DSi) services from Schaffer Library. The college provides research computing infrastructure, the Engaging Technology Lab for support, and professional development programs including the Faculty Development Institute and Byron A. Nichols Fellowship. New offerings include microcredentials in AI, personal finance, and Microsoft Excel via Credly digital badging, and an accelerated 4+1 Business Master's Pathway with University of Rochester's Simon Business School.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Liberal Arts and Engineering Education Residential undergraduate degree programs across 62+ areas of study combining a liberal arts core with ABET-accredited engineering tracks (biomedical, computer, electrical, mechanical). Includes undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, MakerWeb fabrication labs, Digital Studio media production, and access to the Steinmetz Symposium for residential and (where applicable) international students.
- 4+1 Business Master's Pathway Accelerated graduate pathway partnership with the University of Rochester's Simon Business School offering Union students early admission with a guaranteed tuition scholarship of at least 30%, waived application fee, and no GRE/GMAT requirement for a master's degree. Open to high school seniors (GPA 3.5+) and Union juniors (GPA 3.25+).
- Union College Microcredentials Digital badge credentialing program offering focused skill development in personal finance, artificial intelligence, and Microsoft Excel. Free to students, not for credit, delivered through the Credly platform for sharing on LinkedIn and taught by Union faculty or alumni.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #21 in U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Union College
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Union College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration26 records
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Union College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Rochester Simon Business SchoolcoreUnion College has partnered with the University of Rochester's Simon Business School to offer students a 4+1 Business Master's Pathway program. Students receive early admission to Simon with a guaranteed tuition scholarship of at least 30%, waived application fee, no GRE/GMAT requirement, and early access to career workshops and coaching.
- Cornell-led NYCST (New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development)minorUnion College is part of the Cornell-led NYCST consortium that received Round 2 grants from the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program. The initiative supports aerospace research, manufacturing, and workforce development across New York state.
- LeChaseminorLeChase is serving as the construction manager for Union College's new Engineering and Computer Science building currently under construction. LeChase hosted Union College students from the American Society of Civil Engineers chapter for a site tour of the project.
- Newark Public Schools and AIA Newark & Suburban ArchitectsminorPartnership for Architecture Week design events where Union College faculty and students mentor Newark Public Schools students. Participation includes licensed architects and college mentors working with ninth-grade students on hands-on design projects.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Union College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Middlebury College: Vermont-based private liberal arts college with strong language programs and similar residential undergraduate profile.
- Williams College: Highly selective private liberal arts college in Williamstown, MA. Closest comparable peer in size, mission, and selectivity to Union College within the NESCAC.
- Amherst College: Top-ranked private liberal arts college in Massachusetts with similar residential, undergraduate-focused mission and selective admissions profile.
- Hamilton College: Private liberal arts college in Clinton, NY — a fellow NESCAC institution located in upstate New York with comparable size and academic mix.
- Colgate University: Private liberal arts university in Hamilton, NY with strong residential undergraduate programs and similar upstate New York positioning.
- Bowdoin College: Selective private liberal arts college in Brunswick, ME with comparable undergraduate research culture and residential experience.
- Lafayette College: Private liberal arts college in Easton, PA known for combining liberal arts with engineering — a direct analogue to Union's liberal arts + engineering positioning.
- Bates College: NESCAC private liberal arts college in Lewiston, ME with comparable size, mission, and selectivity profile.
- Haverford College: Highly selective private liberal arts college outside Philadelphia with similar academic culture and undergraduate research emphasis.
Broad incumbents
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI): Troy, NY-based research university with strong engineering and science programs; competes for technically inclined upstate NY students considering Union's engineering offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Union College social profiles
Digital presenceUnion College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Union College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Union College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Union College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Union College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Union College
What does Union College do?
Union College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college that delivers residential undergraduate education across 62+ areas of study spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering (including ABET-accredited programs in biomedical, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering). The college supplements its core degree programs with accelerated graduate pathways, microcredentials in personal finance/AI/Excel, undergraduate research, study abroad, MakerWeb fabrication labs, and Digital Studio media production, all delivered primarily at its Schenectady, New York campus.
Is Union College a public or private company?
Union College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Union College founded?
Union College was founded in 1795. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Union College based?
Union College is headquartered in Schenectady, United States, in the North America region.
How does Union College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are alumni Giving and Donations and sponsored Research and Grants.
Who are Union College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Middlebury College, Williams College, Amherst College, Hamilton College, Colgate University, Bowdoin College, Lafayette College, Bates College and Haverford College. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Union College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Union College.
What industry is Union College in?
Union College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAA, General Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHACAO, Arts-Integrated Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.