Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Troy, New York
76.2% Acceptance Rate
Russell Sage College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
76.2%Acceptance Rate
3.3Avg GPA
$50,986Annual Cost
$58,316Grad Salary
43.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
76.2%
Avg GPA
3.3
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Need-Based Aid
43.3% receive Pell
Russell Sage College, established in 1916, is New York's women's college in Troy with coed graduate programs. The campus includes the new School of Health Sciences building. Sage's 'Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's' options allow efficient degree completion.
Russell Sage College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Russell Sage College is inclusive by design. 76.2% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 76.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.85
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Russell Sage College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Russell Sage College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 109 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Russell Sage College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
December 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2027/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Russell Sage College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Russell Sage College is 3.3. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.00–3.3 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.50–3.70.Russell Sage College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context, such as leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.90 – 3.09
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.89
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- 53% acceptance rate (2024-25 cycle); SAT/ACT not used in admissions decisions
- Undergoing a multi-step merger with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; full merger and university status targeted fall 2027
- Was a women's college until a 2020 restructuring made both the Troy and Albany campuses fully coeducational
- Common App currently lists no required personal essay and no application fee for first-year applicants - some older third-party sites still show an essay/fee requirement, so confirm current cycle directly
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Russell Sage College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Russell Sage College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Russell Sage College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Russell Sage College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Russell Sage College Without SAT or ACT?
Russell Sage College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Russell Sage College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Russell Sage College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Reference the merger explicitly if health sciences interest you
Russell Sage is merging with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (first step completed June 2026, full merger targeted fall 2027). If you're eyeing nursing or health sciences, naming interest in the expanded post-merger catalog signals you've done real research, not just a generic "why us."
Use the optional essay even though it's not required
Common App lists no required personal essay for first-year applicants here. With a 53% acceptance rate but a notably low 19% yield, a short supplemental statement on why Troy vs. Albany campus fits you helps you stand out from students treating this as a safety app.
Weight your recommenders heavily
SAT/ACT scores aren't considered in admission decisions, so two strong, specific letters of recommendation carry more relative weight than at test-considering schools. Pick recommenders who can speak to real classroom or work performance, not just character.
Ask how the merger affects your specific program
The merger is going through Middle States Commission substantive-change review. If your intended major touches health sciences, ask admissions directly how curriculum or accreditation timing might shift during your years there.
Expert Insight:
Families often assume the school they're touring now is the school their student will graduate from. Russell Sage is mid-merger with ACPHS and expects to rebrand as "Russell Sage University" by 2027 - program structures, campus use, and branding may look different by senior year.
Russell Sage College Profile
Full Name
Russell Sage College
City
Troy
State
New York
ZIP Code
12180
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Russell Sage College Degree Worth It?
At $50,986/year against a $58,316 median graduate salary, Russell Sage College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $60,200, and graduates see a 3.51% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Russell Sage College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $50,986/year at Russell Sage College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Russell Sage College, 43.3% receive a Pell Grant and 92.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Russell Sage College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Russell Sage College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Russell Sage College graduates report a median income of $58,316, about 44% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Russell Sage College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Russell Sage College Admissions
Russell Sage College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $58,316/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Russell Sage College runs high, at roughly $50,986+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
43.3% of Russell Sage College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Russell Sage College's acceptance rate is 76.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Russell Sage College students is 3.3, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Russell Sage College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.9 or below makes admission tougher at Russell Sage College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Russell Sage College's deadline is December 1. Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority scholarship: 2027/02/01. That's Russell Sage College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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