Union College

Union College is a private liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States and was the first college chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. Union College offers undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences, and it is known for integrating technical and liberal arts education. The college operates on a trimester academic calendar and emphasizes interdisciplinary study and undergraduate research. Students drawn to Union College often seek a residential campus experience with a strong focus on close faculty interaction and a broad-based liberal arts curriculum.

Union College was founded in 1795 in Schenectady, New York, becoming the first institution of higher learning chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York. Established to expand educational opportunity beyond existing colonial colleges, Union College was among the early non-denominational colleges in the United States. John Blair Smith served as its first president, and in 1804 Eliphalet Nott began a 62-year presidency that significantly shaped the college’s academic direction and campus development. In 1845, Union College became the first liberal arts college to offer a full engineering curriculum, reflecting its commitment to blending technical and humanistic studies. Over time, Union College expanded its programs in the sciences and humanities and transitioned to coeducation in the twentieth century. Today, Union College continues to operate as a private undergraduate institution rooted in its liberal arts and engineering traditions.