Admissions Office

International

Union College welcomes students from around the world, who bring unique perspectives and culture to our campus. Representing 48 countries, they contribute to the rich fabric of diversity we have carefully cultivated. Our commitment to our international students is unwavering. We are an inclusive and accepting community where all students are valued regardless of their racial and religious background, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin or world views.

For more about life as an international student at Union, check out our International Students Thrive at Union publication.

Union is a proud partner of the Davis United World College Scholars Program and the Grew Bancroft Foundation. Korean students who have taken the CSAT can use their score to apply to Union College.

Application Deadlines

  • Early Decision I

    Application Deadline: November 1

    CSS Profile Deadline: November 1

    Decision Notification: Mid-December

  • Early Action

    Application Deadline: November 1

    CSS Profile Deadline: November 1

    Decision Notification: Mid-December

  • Early Decision II

    Application Deadline: January 15

    CSS Profile Deadline: January 15

    Decision Notification: February

  • Regular Decision

    Application Deadline: January 15

    CSS Profile Deadline: January 15

    Decision Notification: Late March

  • Transfer Students

    If you are already enrolled in college/university and wish to transfer to Union, please see our deadlines and requirements for international transfer students.

Tracking Your Application

Within 48 hours of submitting your application, you will receive an email from us with instructions to log in to your online Union Applicant Portal. This portal can be used to monitor the status of your application. You will be able to see which required materials are received or missing, and all admissions decisions will be released on this portal.

Application Requirements

  • No application fee is required for international applicants.
  • Apply online using the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Korean students who have taken the CSAT, please see CSAT Application requirements.
  • Union is SAT/ACT optional but recommended for international students when available. Our institution code for the SAT is 2920. Our code for the ACT is 2970.
  • TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test (DET) is required for all applicants whose first language is not English.
    • The following scores are most competitive for admission:
      • TOEFL iBT, 90 or higher (Union's institution code for the TOEFL is 2920)
      • IELTS, 7.0 or higher
      • DET, 125 or higher
    • We will take into consideration all test results sent.
    • TOEFL at Home and the IELTS Indicator will be accepted if other options are not available.
    • We do not offer test fee waiver codes.
  • Waivers of the English language proficiency test (ELPT) requirement are granted on an individual basis at the discretion of the admissions team.
    • After applying, you may access our ELPT Waiver Request Form in your Union applicant portal checklist.
    • Criteria for submitting the form:
      • You will have completed four years of secondary school course work all in English when graduating from school.
      • You are submitting SAT/ACT official score results.
      • In some cases: IB full diploma program, A Levels.
    • Please note submission of the form does not guarantee that the waiver request is approved.
  • Interviews are required for all Chinese and Vietnamese applicants. Select others will be asked to complete an interview after initial review of your application. We will accept interview/video submissions from all applicants. Union College reviews applications holistically, looking for the best additions to our vibrant community. Interviews allow us to learn more about you and how you will contribute to our campus, which can play an important role in the final admissions decision. The following options are available for scheduling your interview:
  • CSS Profile and financial documents are required for all those applying for need-based financial aid.
  • Other requirements: Essay (part of the online application), Official Secondary School Transcripts/Exam Scores, Teacher and Counselor Recommendation Letters. Please be sure all submitted materials are in the English language or are translated and accompanied by copies of the original documents.
  • Early Decision applicants must also submit the Early Decision Agreement. If admitted, Early Decision candidates are committed to attend Union. Once they enroll at the College, they must withdraw all applications to other colleges and universities.

Tuition and Fees 2023-2024

Union’s comprehensive fee, which includes tuition, room, board and mandatory fees, is $82,845 for the 2023-2024 academic year. The estimated cost for books and personal expenses is approximately $2,000.

Financial Aid

Union College utilizes the CSS Profile to determine financial need. The College is need-aware in the admissions process, which means that your financial information is considered along with the other components of your application during the admission evaluation. We typically expect international students, without outside financial support, to contribute a minimum of $7,500 per year towards their education. Applicants who can contribute more will be most competitive for admission. Last year, the average aid recipient contributed more than $25,000 (annual expectation), with over 75 percent of our international aid budget awarded in the two Early Decision rounds. Need-based awards ranged from $20,000 to just over $70,000, with an average of $51,000 towards the year's comprehensive fee of $82,845. Financial aid is limited and competitive, so it is important to adhere to established deadlines.

Financial Aid Requirements

Financial aid forms must be submitted by the admissions application deadline. International applicants applying for need-based financial aid must submit:

  • CSS Profile
    • Union College requires international students seeking need-based aid to complete the CSS Profile.
    • Union's CSS Profile school code is 2920.
  • Income Documents
    • Documents can be submitted via our Financial Aid Dropbox. For your personal security, we ask that you do not send any forms via email attachment if at all possible.
    • Foreign income documentation must be translated into U.S. dollars.
    • All documents should have translations or explanations in English.
    • Examples of income documentation are: Salary or earnings statement from each working parent's employer OR your country's tax return, with notes that translate necessary portions into English and US dollars.
    • Salary or earnings statements should be on the company's letterhead or official from the company indicating annual wages, bonuses, benefits, subsidies or perquisites and should indicate if the income is gross income (before taxes), in which case we need to know the taxes paid.

Please note: International students who enroll as first-year students without applying for financial aid will not be eligible for financial aid in future years.