807 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12308

Union College is an independent liberal arts college located on 120-acres in downtown Schenectady, New York. Union College was the first college chartered by the Board of Regents for the state of New York. Officially founded in 1795, the college can trace its roots back 17 years earlier when a group of residents saw the need for an institution of higher learning. Union was given its name to recognize both the new union of colonies into a nation, as well as to signify the bringing together of people of different faiths. Union College is one of the oldest independent nondenominational colleges in the country.

Today, over 2,100 full time students attend Union College. The college offers over 40 Bachelor's and Master's Degree programs in 20 departments. Majors offered include African studies, biochemistry, biology, economics, English, geology, history, philosophy, physics, political science, Russia and Eastern European studies, sociology and women's and gender studies. The Schaffer Library on campus has over 500,000 printed volumes and subscribes to over 1,600 journals and periodicals.

Although Union College is located in an urban area, there is 8 acres of gardens known as Jackson Gardens on campus. The centerpiece of the campus at Union College is the Nott Memorial. The 16-sided building was constructed in 1875 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is named for Eliphalet Nott, who served as Union College's president for 62 years- the longest tenure of any American college president. Students may live on campus. One of the most desirable areas for students to live is College Park, the neighborhood located just west of the campus. Since 1998, Union College has invested over $25 million in renovations of the neighborhood. The revitalization initiative is a partnership between Union College and the city of Schenectady.


Quick Facts:

Union College is one of six in the nation awarded a grant from the Pew Memorial Trusts to develop better ways of teaching science, mathematics, and computer science to undergraduates.

Approximately two thirds of the faculty has international experience and over 95 percent hold doctorate or terminal degrees in their field.

There are one dozen Greek fraternities and five sororities on the Union College campus. Over 45 percent of the sophomores, juniors and seniors eligible to participate in a Greek program are members.

Intercollegiate sports at Union College include: baseball, basketball, crew, cross-country, football, field and ice hockey, indoor/outdoor track and field, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, softball and volleyball.

There are over 50 academic, honors, Greek, leadership, service, special interest and other clubs and organizations on the campus at Union College.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.