FAQs

General FAQs

• What is the breakdown of the Comprehensive Fee?

  2024-25 FEES

  Annual Tuition Fee $ 68,688

  Annual Room Charge $ 9,315

  Annual Board Charge $ 7,695

  Annual Activity Fee $ 351

  Total Annual Comprehensive Fee $ 86,049

  Per Term Tuition $ 22,896

  (Per Course Fee $7,632 or $2,544 per credit)

  Per Term Room Charge $ 3,105

  Per Term Board Charge $ 2,565

  Per Term Activity Fee $ 117

  Total Per Term Comprehensive Fee $ 28,683

  Summer Course Fee for Enrolled students $5,066

  Fourth Course Fee for Enrolled students $5,066

  Student Health Insurance $ 2,699.67

  2023-24 FEES

  Annual Tuition Fee $ 66,105

  Annual Room Charge $ 9,027

  Annual Board Charge $ 7,362

  Annual Activity Fee $ 351

  Total Annual Comprehensive Fee $ 82,845

  Per Term Tuition $ 22,035

  (Per Course Fee $7,345 or $2,448 per credit)

  Per Term Room Charge $ 3,009

  Per Term Board Charge $ 2,454

  Per Term Activity Fee $ 117

  Total Per Term Comprehensive Fee $ 27,615

  Summer Course Fee for Enrolled students $4,875

  Fourth Course Fee for Enrolled students $4,875

  Student Health Insurance

  Domestic student $ 2,293.20

  International student $ 2,281.96

• How will my Student Account be billed?

  All billing for Student Accounts is done electronically and an email will be sent to students/proxies whenever a new Trimester billing statement has been added to the student account. Incidental charges are added each Monday for charges that were placed on the student account the previous week. Examples are Bookstore, Wicker Wellness, Campus Safety and Dining Services charges.

  Login to Self Service Student Finance to view your bill.

  Choose Student Account Billing located in the Financial Information tab.

• When will my Student Account be billed and what are the payment due dates?

  There are three billing dates for the Comprehensive Fee (Tuition and Fees) each year.

  Charges for incidental billing such as Bookstore, Dining, Campus safety, and Health Services charges are added weekly with terms of net 30.

  2024-2025

  Comprehensive Fee-Fall

  • July 15, 2024 (BILLING DATE)
  • August 12, 2024 (PAYMENT DUE DATE)

  Comprehensive Fee-Winter

  • November 13, 2024 (BILLING DATE)
  • December 13, 2024 (PAYMENT DUE DATE))

  Comprehensive Fee-Spring

  • February 12, 2025 (BILLING DATE)
  • March 14, 2025 (PAYMENT DUE DATE)

  2023-2024

  Comprehensive Fee-Fall

  • July 12, 2023 (BILLING DATE)
  • August 11, 2023 (PAYMENT DUE DATE)

  Comprehensive Fee-Winter

  • November 15, 2023 (BILLING DATE)
  • December 15, 2023 (PAYMENT DUE DATE))

  Comprehensive Fee-Spring

  • February 14, 2024 (BILLING DATE)
  • March 15, 2024 (PAYMENT DUE DATE)

  The bills will reflect financial aid awarded to those students. Financial aid is credited to the student account only after all required documentation has been received and approved by the Financial Aid Office.

  Charges incurred during the academic year are billed as they are received and will be included in each billing statement. View your bill.

• I am having trouble accessing my account to view my bill, who should I contact?

  Self Service access is only available to parents if the student has granted access to their account.

  • The Bursar’s and Financial Aid offices are unable to grant Self Service access to parents. This access can only be granted by your student.
  • Parents and Students can reset their own password when necessary.
  • If you have more than one child attending Union, you can only view the accounts of student(s) who have granted you access.
  • If your Self Service account is locked out, it will automatically unlock in 10 minutes.

  For more information on Self Service.

  For Self Service questions, call the ITS help desk (518) 388-6400 or email helpdesk@union.edu.

  For student billing access questions, call (518) 388-6106 or email bursar@union.edu.

  For financial aid access questions, call (518) 388-6123 or email finaid@union.edu.

• I have viewed my Student Account bill, who should I contact if I have questions?

  For general questions regarding the comprehensive fee or payment options, please contact the Bursar's office by phone (518) 388-6106 or by email at bursar@union.edu

• I have questions about fines or other miscellaneous charges on my bill.

  The Bursar's office does not have detailed information regarding incidental charges and is not authorized to adjust or cancel them. If you have questions or concerns regarding such charges, please refer to the following list to determine who to contact for additional information.

  • Bookstore Charges: (518) 388-6189
  • Dining Services: (518) 388-6179
  • Health Services: (518) 388-6120
  • Residence Life Damage Charges or Fines: (518) 388-6117
  • Parking Fines/Vehicle Charges: (518) 388-6381
  • Library Fines: (518) 388-6277
  • Athletic tickets/trips/equipment: (518) 388-6284
• I have questions about financial aid

  Contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at (518) 388-6123 or by email finaid@union.edu

• I have questions about international programs

  All faculty-led full term abroad programs are charged the comprehensive fee plus a $650 fee which is used to cover the cost of field trips, excursions and international health insurance.

  All other full terms abroad and exchange programs are only charged a $50 fee for international health insurance.

  The Antwerp and Turkish exchange programs are tuition and international health insurance only. The students are responsible for their room and board while abroad and as a result, their Student Account is credited for the Union room and board charges.

  The Lille exchange program is tuition, room and international health insurance.

  Mini Terms are generally three-week programs during the summer and winter breaks. The Student Account is charged $3,830 which covers the tuition, room, board, excursions and international health insurance.

• What are the penalties for late payment?
  • Returning students whose Student Account has a balance due on move-in day for Fall Term will have their housing assignment and course registration removed
  • There will be a $100 Late Payment Fee charged to the Student Account
  • Students with past due balances will have a financial hold placed on their account
  • Students with a financial hold will be prevented from pre-scheduling classes for the next term
  • Student applications for terms abroad will not be accepted
  • In extreme cases, students may be withdrawn from school
• Can I make monthly payments to pay my tuition and fees?

  To help families stretch their annual payment to Union, Union College has a monthly payment option administered by Transact which allows payments for tuition and fees to be made over a period of time that ends April 15th. The plan carries no finance charges, but does require an enrollment fee of $45. To enroll or obtain more information go to Transact's CASHNet portal.

  All payment plans end with the final payment of April 15th.

  Once a payment plan is established, it is highly recommended that the student account be reviewed periodically to be sure the plan will have adequate funds to cover the annual student account charges; including any incidental charges added to the student account. The Bursar's office may assist in calculating a payment plan but is not responsible for any payment plan shortages.

• Can I pay my tuition and fees with a credit card?

  Using Transact's CASHNet portal you can make a credit card payment. There is a 2.75% convenience fee paid to Transact at the time of the transaction. Effective 7/5/23, this fee is increasing to 2.85%.

• Can I make a payment online for my tuition and fees?

  Using Transact's CASHNet portal you can make an online electronic debit to your checking or savings account (U.S. accounts only).

• Can I wire money to pay my tuition and fees?

  Union College accepts wire transfers of U.S. dollars for payments on student accounts. For bank account information for wires, please email bursar@union.edu.

• How do I request a refund of a credit balance?

  Requests for refunds must be in writing and should be submitted to the Bursar's Office by email Bursar@union.edu.

  If the credit is fully or partially due to a Parent Loan or payment made by a parent, a refund check will be issued and mailed to the parent at their home address unless the parent notifies the Student Accounts Office that the check should be forwarded directly to the student. If a credit balance is due to student aid, the refund check will be mailed to the student's box.

• Do I have to purchase the health insurance offered by Union College?

  Union College requires ALL students to have health insurance and will bill each student for the insurance with the Fall term billing statement.

  Domestic students will be charged for the insurance but can opt out of the plan and have the insurance waived upon completion of a waiver form available through Haylor, Freyer, & Coon (HFC). Once waived, the insurance fee will be removed from the student account but only after the student uploads an active insurance card and the waiver is approved by HFC. Your plan must cover you for both emergency and non-emergency services within 50 miles of Schenectady, NY in order for your waiver to be approved.

  Please know it is necessary to waive the health insurance annually. To Waive the insurance, please visit: Student Health Insurance

  If you choose to keep the Union College insurance, you must ACTIVLEY enroll in the plan with your personal credentials. Please log into Student Health Insurance to create an account and to print your ID card.

  All International Students are required to have health insurance provided by Union College and may not opt out of the plan.

• How can I get enrollment verification as required by family health insurance providers and some outside scholarship agencies?

  Enrollment verification may be obtained by logging on to Self Service. Under Academic Profile, select NSC Student Self Service to obtain your certificate of enrollment.

• What happens if I have to withdraw from school after the start of the term?

  Please contact the Bursar's office by phone (518) 388-6106 or by email bursar@union.edu.

• How do I pay for my books?

  Students may purchase their books at the Union College Bookstore using cash, check, credit card, or a Bookstore Charge Account. Bookstore charge account transactions are posted to the Student Account each Monday for the previous weeks purchases.

  Bookstore accounts are closed starting May 12th for the final incidental billing due on June 1st. At that time, you can still use cash, check, or credit cards for your purchases.

• Are banking services available on campus?

  There is a full service ATM machine located in the Reamer Campus Center which is owned and operated by Bank of America.

  Students can cash checks at the Cashier’s Office at no charge. We cash Union College payroll checks, personal checks, business checks and third party checks from parents or grandparents up to a limit of $250.

  Students with on campus jobs are encouraged to enroll in direct deposit. Submit your completed direct deposit form to the Payroll Office in McKean House. Forms are available on the Payroll website.

  The Cashier’s Office is located in McKean House and is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• I will be living in a fraternity /sorority house. Will the bill from Union College include room and board charges?

  If the fraternity/sorority house is an on campus residence, you will be billed the comprehensive fee which includes room and board. Union College does not bill for Greek dues or social fees, these are collected by the fraternity or sorority.

• What is FERPA?

  FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and is a federal law that was enacted in 1974. FERPA protects the privacy of student education records. All educational institutions that receive federal funding must comply with FERPA.

  Per FERPA regulations, Students need to grant parents access to their student information before the Bursar's office can discuss their account with a parent. Students grant access thru Self Service.

  Please see the FERPA page on the Registrar's site for more information.

• Where can I find more information on Meal Plans?

  Please visit Union College Dining for more information on our meal plans.

• How do I add more funds to my meal plan?

  Students can add declining dollars anytime using the GET link.

  Parents can add declining dollars to a student account by visit get.cbord.com and selecting Union College Hospitality.

• What is the additional cost for a term abroad?

  You are billed the full comprehensive fee plus the terms abroad fee. Please visit the International Programs office for more information on costs of a term abroad.