Head-to-Head Comparison
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences vs Union College
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 17
- Tied
- 9
- Union Wins
- 14
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Union College offers a significantly safer investment tier. With an annual cost of $34,561 vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545, Union College delivers strong outcomes at a fraction of the price. Students who choose Union College benefit from a cost structure that keeps debt manageable while maintaining competitive graduate earnings of $88,604 at ten years.
40 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 42% more than Union College
- Less debt: Median debt of $25,000, the lower of the two
Union
- Lower cost: Average net price of $34,561, roughly $4,984 a year less
- Higher grad rate: 83% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- More selective: Admits 44% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Massachusetts Pharmacy graduates concentrate in Health Professions (93% of degrees); Union in Social Sciences (21%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Union College. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $88,604.
Pick Union College over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Net price $34,561 vs $39,545.
Pick Union College over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 83% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Union College are close on paper, but Union College wins the head-to-head, leading on 3 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Union College is the harder admit. It takes 44% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,269 to 1,395.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Union College sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Union College comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $34,561, about $4,984 a year below Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Graduates of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also borrow less: median debt of $25,000, against $25,337.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $19,936 before any change in aid. Choosing Union College leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $88,604 at Union College. That is a 42% advantage. Set against borrowing, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.2x to 0.29x.
So what: An earnings gap of 42% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Union College graduates a larger share of its students, 83% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 20% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Union College to keep costs and debt down; pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. Union College saves about $4,984 a year, yet Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn $36,953 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Their academic identities diverge. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates enrollment in Health Professions, Psychology, while Union College leans toward Social Sciences, Engineering. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Cost-conscious students: net price of $39,545 runs well above Union College's $34,561.
- Engineering-focused students: Union College has the stronger engineering programs.
- Students who want a smaller campus: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's enrollment of 3,451 far exceeds Union College's 2,046.
No strong negative signals — Union competes well across the dimensions measured.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Union College
Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofit
Union College is a solid choice for students interested in a diverse range of studies, particularly in social sciences, engineering, biology, and psychology. With an enrollment of about 2,046 students and an acceptance rate of 44%, it strikes a balance between being accessible and maintaining a close-knit community. The graduation rate of 83% reflects a supportive environment where students tend to thrive and complete their degrees.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, students from Union College can expect a median earning of $88,604 within ten years of finishing their degree. This level of earning power suggests that graduates are well-prepared for the job market, with many finding roles that allow them to grow both personally and professionally. The affordability factor also plays a role in this, as financial burdens are important to consider when thinking about long-term success.
The financial bottom line shows a net price of $34,561 after aid, which is manageable compared to the potential earnings. With a median debt of $25,337, students can graduate with a reasonable financial outlook, especially relative to their earning potential. Those who tend to thrive at Union are likely to be motivated, engaged, and ready to take on the academic rigor of the programs offered, all while enjoying the vibrant community atmosphere in Schenectady.
Rankings They Appear On
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is featured on the Highest-Paying Online Bachelor's Programs ranking.
Top Degree Programs
Massachusetts Pharmacy's top program is Nursing (BSN) (93% of enrollment), while Union leads with Sociology (21%).
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy) and Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer (for Union).
The two schools feed different job markets. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is strongest in Health Professions, Psychology, Physical Sciences, while Union College concentrates in Social Sciences, Engineering, Humanities. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Union College?
Union College is harder to get into, admitting 44% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Union College?
Union College is more affordable, with an average net price of $34,561 after aid versus $39,545 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Do Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Union College graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $88,604 at Union College.
Which has a better graduation rate, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Union College?
Union College has the higher graduation rate, 83% versus 63%.
Should you choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Union College?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Union College if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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