Welcome Fall 2023 Admits!
Accepting Your Offer | Getting to Know Our Community | Financial Aid at Union | Getting Started at Union
Congratulations on your acceptance and we look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you! Welcome to our community of compassionate and justice-focused leaders.
The resources below will assist you in your decision and help you get started as a student at Union.
Within three weeks on making your deposit, you will be assigned a University ID (UNI) and Union Theological Seminary email address. These two important credentials will provide you access to key university services and allow you to move forward in the enrollment process.
Join us for an upcoming event designed for our admitted students. These events including information sessions and public lectures, will connect you with other admitted students and faculty members and provide you with valuable insight into life on campus as you get ready to embark on your journey to graduate school. RSVP for each event you plan to attend.
Information Session | Buddhism & Interreligious Engagement at Union
Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Information Session | Chaplaincy at Union
Monday, March 20 at 6:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Pubic Event | Investigating Case and Racial Oppression through a Buddhist Lens
Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Information Session | EDS at Union
Wednesday, March 22 at 7:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Public Event | The Purpose of Power with Alicia Garza
Thursday, March 23 at 6:00 pm ET | Hybrid | RSVP HERE
Admitted Students Day
Friday, March 24 at 8:30 am – 3:30 pm ET | In-person | RSVP HERE
Public Event | Just Conversation with Union Faculty
Monday, March 27 at 1:15 pm | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Information Session | Housing at Union
Wednesday, March 29 at 6:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Information Session | Financial Aid at Union
Tuesday, April 4 at 6:00 pm ET | Virtual | RSVP HERE
Join us for Admitted Students Day
Joining us from out of town? Visit the Columbia University Visitor’s Center for discounted accommodations.
More ways to get to know our community
- Contact the Admissions Office to be matched with a current student or alum in your area
- Learn more about our Housing options by watching this Tour of Hastings Hall
- Explore student life at Union and learn more about our Student Senate and Caucus
- Learn more about life after Union, by checking out our Alumni/ae Profiles
Both merit and need-based scholarships are available to new and continuing full-time students enrolled in a qualifying degree program. Over 90% of Union students receive some form of financial assistance, with the average award covering 50% of tuition or more. Please refer to your Funding Letter for more information about your award.
To be considered for financial aid, you will be required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or via the myStudentAid app on IOS or Android. Please use G02890 as your school code.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees at Union are determined based on your degree program and whether you are enrolled in full or part-time study. View Union’s tuition and fee schedule for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. We will be posting 2023 – 2024 tuition and fees shortly, we do not anticipate many changes for the upcoming year.
Estimated Cost of Attendance
The expenses of individual students will vary considerably. Below provides a reasonable picture of a student’s fixed and discretionary costs for MDiv, MA, and STM degrees, and will be used as the standard for financial aid purposes at Union. Please click here for a more detailed breakdown of Union’s Tuition and Fees.
| Fixed Costs | |
|---|---|
| Budget Category | Cost |
| Tuition | $23,670 |
| Medical Insurance | $5,000 |
| Student Activity Fee | $200 |
| Health Program Fee | $1,245 |
| Meal Plan | $4,050 |
| Discretionary Costs | |
| Average Housing | $12,970 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,600 |
| Local Transportation | $1,200 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,000 |
| TOTAL | $51,890 |
Federal Financial Aid & Student Loans
The following Federal Financial Aid programs are available at Union
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Offer up to $20,500 of funding per academic year. Amounts borrowed are subject to interest and a loan origination fee. You are not required to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this program. This program is subject to a $138,000 lifetime borrowing limit
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans: Pay for expenses not covered by other financial aid. Graduate PLUS loans typically carry a higher interest rate than other federal loan programs and you must not have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be conducted). You are not required to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this program. You can borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.
Federal Work-Study: Union has a limited number of part-time on-campus and off-campus jobs available under the federal work-study program. This is a form of financial aid that does not need to be paid back.
External Scholarships
We have compiled a list of external scholarships that can help ease the financial burden of your education. These scholarships are not provided by Union, but we believe they are excellent resources that students can pursue. Our list includes a variety of scholarships for students across different fields of study, as well as merit-based scholarships and need-based awards. We have also included scholarships specifically for women, minorities, and first-generation college students. This is not a comprehensive list and we encourage you to do your own research.
Once you have submitted your enrollment deposit, review the following pages to learn how to prepare for the start of classes.
- Login to your Union Gmail and check it frequently, as all Getting Started forms and instructions will be sent here. You can expect to receive your log-in credentials approximately two weeks after your deposit is submitted.
- International Students should review the following page to learn more about the F-1 visa process.
- Complete all required Action Items before you arrive of campus for Union Orientation.
