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Russell Sage College

Private nonprofit Troy, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 93% data
B+ Earnings B+ Selectivity C+ Diversity
Graduation Rate
59% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$58,316 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$22,917 D+
34% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
53% B+
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +43% vs avg
Graduation +4% vs avg
Net Price 34% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.8 over 20 years.

14.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,268,714.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 43% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $14.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Russell Sage College Matters

Russell Sage College is a private doctoral / professional university in Troy, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
1,244
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Russell Sage College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 40% overall
B+
Earnings
$58,316 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
D+
Affordability
$22,917/yr net
C
Graduation
59% graduate
B+
Selectivity
53% admit rate
C+
Diversity
0.64 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Russell Sage College is a good fit for students who are looking for a close-knit community with a focus on practical, career-oriented programs. With an enrollment of just over 1,200 students and a 53% acceptance rate, the college cultivates an environment where individuals can thrive in areas like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts, and Education. This diversity in programs means there’s something for many interests, allowing students to explore their passions while preparing for their careers.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $58,316 after ten years in the workforce. This figure gives us a glimpse into potential financial mobility, making it clear that graduates from Russell Sage can build successful careers. The college’s affordability is also noteworthy; with a net price of $22,917, many students find it accessible, especially with 42% receiving Pell Grants, which can help offset costs.

When we look at the bottom line, the median debt for graduates stands at $22,000, which is manageable for many, especially given the earning potential. Students who thrive here often appreciate the supportive atmosphere and personalized attention from faculty. It’s a place where you can feel connected and empowered, making it easier to navigate both your studies and your future career path.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Russell Sage College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Russell Sage College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Troy, New York, Russell Sage College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 53% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.

Acceptance Rate
53%
Retention Rate
78%
Full-Time Faculty
84%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,600
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.64
First-Gen Students
38%
Applicants
1,737
Admitted
1,279

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Russell Sage College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Russell Sage College is $38,164, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,917. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,662 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$38,164
Out-of-State
$38,164
Avg Net Price
$22,917
Median Debt
$22,000
Pell Grant Rate
42%
Federal Loan Rate
78%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$6,662
Family Income $30K–$48K
$41,141
Family Income $48K–$75K
$21,326
Family Income $110K+
$26,526

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Russell Sage College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Russell Sage College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Russell Sage College earn a median of $58,316, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$51,139
8 Years
$52,727
10 Years
$58,316
Debt-to-Earnings
0.38x
Earning > $25K
69%

Earnings Trajectory

$51,139 6yr $52,727 8yr $58,316 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (151)
53%
100% (151)
53%
100% (151)
53%
100% (151)
53%

How Russell Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation59%Earnings 10yr$58KNet Price$23KRetention78%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate42%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$41K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$27K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Russell Sage College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Russell Sage College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,917/year ($91,668 total). Graduates earn $58,316 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,360,382 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,268,714 (14.8× your investment). The median debt is $22,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$91,668
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,360,382
Net Return
$1,268,714
ROI Multiple
14.8×
Cost Per Year
$22,917
Median Debt
$22,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
59%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Russell Sage College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Russell Sage College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.58
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
9.0%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,373,453
Investment Income
$-4,201,923

Top Programs

The fields Russell Sage College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Russell Sage College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Troy, New York, Russell Sage College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 53% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Russell Sage College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Russell Sage College is $38,164, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,917. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,662 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,000 in federal student loans.

Is Russell Sage College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Russell Sage College earn a median of $58,316, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is Russell Sage College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Russell Sage College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Russell Sage College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys