Union College

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.

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

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

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate education
• Engineering programs
• Liberal arts college
• Higher education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schenectady

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration26 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Rochester Simon Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Union 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Union 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.
• LeChaseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 October 2025LeChase 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 ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/unioncollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/unioncolleg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/union-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/unioncollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@unioncollege
• Xx.com/UnionCollegeNY

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Union College