With regular decision acceptance letters set to go out at the end of March, admissions officers are finalizing the Class of 2022.
The competition to land a coveted spot in the class remains fierce, with a record 6,701 students applying, a slight increase over last year’s record of 6,676. This includes 412 early decision applicants. Students applying under early decision have made a commitment to attend Union if they are accepted.
Since 2007, applications to Union have jumped 39 percent.
The overall rise in interest from students considering Union is reflected in the College expanding its geographic and global reach. Applications from prospective international students jumped 9 percent this year to 1,715, from 1,579 last year.
Students applying from outside the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states rose to 41 percent, up from 39 percent a year ago.
The applicant pool represents 47 states and 117 countries.
“We have an incredibly talented and diverse pool of applicants to choose from,” said Matt Malatesta ‘91, vice president for Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment. “We’re excited so many students are interested in Union. Our challenge is to select the most interesting and inspiring students who we believe are poised to make a difference here.”
The expected size of the Class of 2022 is between 570 and 580 students.
The record number of applications comes at a time when the College remains committed to meeting the full financial need of all admitted students. The average need-based scholarship at Union is $35,000, and the average merit scholarship ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.
Regular decision letters will be sent by April 1. All students offered admission will have until May 1 to accept their offers.
The Office of Admissions will host three Admitted Students Day programs. The programs on April 6, 16 and 23 will feature tours, information sessions, class visits and introductions to Union’s world-class faculty, staff and students.
Founded in 1795 as the first planned campus in the country, Union is consistently ranked among the nation's top liberal arts colleges. Union is included in the college guide, “The Hidden Ivies,” which highlights exceptional schools that offer a broad liberal arts education. The school is also among the Princeton Review’s list of colleges with the best return on investment, and USA Today’s College Guide ranked Union among the top five STEM schools for women.
Students who choose Union will join a campus that will welcome its 19th president, David R. Harris, on July 1. Provost and senior vice president at Tufts University, Harris will succeed Stephen C. Ainlay. Ainlay will step down at the end of the academic year after 12 years of distinguished leadership at the College.
The College is also in the midst of creating an Integrated Science and Engineering Complex. The $100 million project is the most ambitious and largest in the school’s history. When completed, it will rank among the finest undergraduate science and engineering facilities in the country. The complex will be phased in over the next two years, with an addition ready for the fall term.