Union College in Schenectady, New York is one of the few US liberal arts colleges that puts its international aid position in plain words: admission is need-aware, but international students receive merit scholarships of $5,000 to $40,000 a year and grant aid, and preference for both is given to students who apply in a binding Early Decision round.
That last sentence is the most useful thing on the page for an Indian applicant. Union admits students from 55 countries, charges a single comprehensive fee, and asks every international applicant for a Certification of Finances. Here is the full 2026-27 picture – costs, scholarships, forms, test scores and the 15 November Early Decision I deadline that is days away.
Union College international financial aid at a glance
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Union College, Schenectady, New York, USA |
| Last date to apply | 15 November 2026 (Early Decision I), 15 January 2027 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision). Aid documents are due on the same date as the admission application |
| Official website | union.edu – International admissions and aid |
Is Union College need-aware for international students?
Yes, and Union does not soften the wording: “Admission to Union is need-aware, meaning that a family’s ability to contribute toward the cost of education is one factor considered in the admission process.” The same paragraph adds that preference for admission, scholarships and need-based financial aid is given to international students who apply in one of the binding Early Decision rounds.
The aid promise is on the financial aid page: Union meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted students who submit all financial aid materials by the published deadlines. For an international applicant the operative detail is the deadline itself – all financial aid documentation is due by the same date as the admission application. Late paperwork is not considered late aid; it is no aid.
Merit scholarships of $5,000 to $40,000, with no separate application
Union states that first-year and transfer applicants are automatically considered for scholarships, that the awards range from $5,000 to $40,000 per year with the larger awards going to the strongest students, and that they are automatically renewed for up to four years. There is no scholarship form to file.
The international admissions page confirms the same money reaches international applicants: “Union’s commitment to enrolling a diverse, global student body includes generous merit scholarships and grant aid for international students. We work closely with each applicant to provide a strong aid package based on academic achievements and the financial information each family provides.”
One number puts that in context: more than 60% of Union students receive need-based financial assistance and more than 25% receive merit scholarships, from a financial aid programme that Union says puts more than $80 million of its own resources into aid each year.
What an aid package can contain
Union describes need-based packages in general as a mix of grant, loan and work opportunity. Unlike some full-need colleges, Union does not publish a promise of loan-free packages, so read the award letter line by line: the grant is the part that does not have to be repaid, the loan and the campus job are the parts that do.
Union also runs Making U Possible grants for some students who apply for aid but do not qualify for need-based aid, or qualify for only a small amount – worth knowing if your family income sits just above the need threshold.
Cost of attendance 2026-27
| Comprehensive fee (tuition, room, board and mandatory fees) | $92,610 |
| Estimated books and personal expenses | about $2,000 |
| Indicative total before travel and insurance | about $94,610 |
Union publishes a single comprehensive fee rather than a long list of line items, which makes budgeting simpler than at colleges that bill tuition, housing, food and fees separately. Flights, visa costs and any health-insurance gap are additional.
Entry requirements for Indian applicants
- No application fee and a “no-harm” test-optional policy: SAT or ACT scores may be submitted, but they are optional for all applicants.
- English proficiency is required for applicants whose first language is not English. Union lists the most competitive scores as TOEFL 4.5 or higher on the new scale (90 or higher on the old scale), IELTS 6.5 and Duolingo English Test 120. The TOEFL institution code is 2920.
- Official secondary school transcripts and exam scores, sent directly by the school or the testing agency, plus teacher and counsellor recommendation letters. Anything not in English must be translated and accompanied by a copy of the original.
- Certification of Finances – required from every international applicant, not only those asking for aid.
- Early Decision Agreement for ED applicants: an ED admission is binding, and the student must withdraw applications to other colleges.
Important dates for the 2027 intake
- 15 November 2026 – Early Decision I application and financial aid deadline; admission documents due 20 November 2026; decisions released on a rolling basis from November.
- 1 December 2026 – priority deadline for scholarship consideration. Applying by this date puts the file in the first scholarship review.
- 15 January 2027 – Early Decision II and Regular Decision application and aid deadline; admission documents due 20 January 2027.
- 15 February 2027 – the last date for a Regular Decision applicant to switch the application to Early Decision II.
The Davis United World College route
Union partners with the Davis United World College Scholars Program: international students who completed their final high-school years at one of the 17 United World Colleges are eligible for need-based support through that partnership. If you are a UWC graduate, say so in the application – it is a separate funding line from the standard international aid budget.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Union’s international admissions page says the college offers generous merit scholarships and grant aid to international students, and the financial aid page says Union meets the full demonstrated need of admitted students who submit all aid documents by the published deadline.
No. Union states plainly that admission is need-aware, meaning a family’s ability to pay is one factor in the decision, and that preference for admission, scholarships and aid goes to international students who apply in a binding Early Decision round.
From $5,000 to $40,000 per year, with larger awards for the strongest applicants. Every first-year and transfer applicant is considered automatically, the award is renewed for up to four years, and no separate scholarship application is needed.
Early Decision I is 15 November 2026, and Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both 15 January 2027. Financial aid documents are due on the same date as the admission application; 1 December 2026 is the priority date for scholarship consideration.
Union lists TOEFL 4.5 or higher on the new scale (90 or higher on the old scale) with institution code 2920, IELTS 6.5 or higher, or Duolingo English Test 120 or higher. SAT and ACT scores are optional.
The comprehensive fee – tuition, room, board and mandatory fees – is $92,610 for 2026-27. Union estimates a further $2,000 for books and personal expenses.
Yes. Union requires the Certification of Finances from all international applicants, including those who are applying for need-based aid or a merit scholarship.
Official links
- International admissions, requirements and aid – Union College
- Financial aid overview and 2026-27 comprehensive fee – Union College
- First-year application deadlines and scholarship priority date – Union College
- Apply for financial aid – Union College
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