Admissions FAQs

HEOP applicants must:

• Reside in New York State
• Possess a New York high school diploma or its equivalent
• Meet New York State Education Department’s economic eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for AOP, applicants:

• Generally will be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Must demonstrate a need for additional academic and/or financial support AOP/HEOP economic eligibility

AOP/HEOP ECONOMIC ELIGIBILITY

Use the following information to determine financial eligibility for AOP/HEOP for 2026-2027 Academic Year

1 in Household
$28,953 Income Eligibility

2 in Household
$39,128 Income Eligibility

3 in Household
$49,303 Income Eligibility

4 in Household
$59,478 Income Eligibility

5 in Household
$69,653 Income Eligibility

6 in Household
$79,828 Income Eligibility

7 in Household
$90,003 Income Eligibility

8 in Household
$100,178 Income Eligibility

For families greater than 8 members, add $10,175 for each additional person.

Exceptions

The income guidelines noted above do not apply if a student falls into one of the following categories:

• The student or the student’s family is the recipient of Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Home Relief, or Family Day Care payments through a New York state or a county department of Social Services.
• The student is living with foster parents who do not provide support for college, and no funds are provided from the natural parents.
• The student is a ward of the State of New York or a county in New York state.

What we look for

Qualified candidates for Union’s AOP/HEOP programs generally do not meet the College’s standard admission profile, but demonstrate the potential to succeed within the college. Acceptance into these programs is based on an in-depth review of high school records, available standardized testing, and personal attributes such as maturity, interest and determination.

• CSS Profile
• FAFSA
• High School Transcript
• Senior year grades

Yes. All AOP/HEOP students receive work-study jobs. Students can even request to have their work-study position be in the form of community service with a local organization in Schenectady!

We encourage all prospective students to research their top choice schools before starting the application process. Take advantage of opportunities to connect with Union by searching for your home state and local high schools. Also, visit our campus! It is important to visit different schools in order to determine how you feel about their location. A tour with our Admissions tour guides can help you connect with the student body and explore the campus.

There is no application fee.

There is no additional application for AOP/HEOP scholarships at Union College. All applications are screened for AOP/HEOP eligibility, and all students submit an application through Early Decision I or II, Early Action or Regular Decision by the appropriate deadline. Eligibility for AOP/HEOP is determined by the strength of a student’s academic standing and financial need.

Take note of all our application deadlines and read more about “What we look for.” Recommendations and senior year grades are carefully reviewed along with formal transcripts. Also, it is very important to submit all financial documents as quickly as possible to determine your financial need. Without those forms, it is more difficult to determine eligibility for programs like AOP/HEOP.

Contact with our college admissions team and the AOP/HEOP office is strongly recommended. Students should show a demonstrated interest in their top choices. Demonstrated interest will enhance your application.

The average AOP/HEOP applicant at Union College has a 25 – 30 ACT score. The average combined SAT score is no less than 1150.