Russell Sage College vs SUNY Albany

Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany, two esteemed institutions of higher learning in New York State, offer distinct educational experiences. Russell Sage College, a private liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on personalized attention, while SUNY at Albany, a public research university, offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for research. With acceptance rates of 75% and 49%, respectively, these institutions cater to students with varying academic backgrounds. Russell Sage College's popular majors include nursing, psychology, and business, while SUNY at Albany excels in fields such as engineering, computer science, and public health. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences in student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about your academic journey.

	SUNY at Albany	Russell Sage College
Overview
Location	Albany, New York	Troy, New York
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	82.0%	69.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	68.0%	73.1%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $75	$40
SAT range	1090 - 1280	N/A
ACT range	22 - 29	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	15.0%
Students submitting ACT score	2.0%
Total number of applicants	21,265	1,884
Total number of admissions given out	14,458	1,377
Admitted students who chose to enroll	3,030	263
Yield rate	21.0%	19.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $26,578 Out of state: $44,418	$48,254
Average net price	$17,350	$22,713
Tuition	In state: $7,070 Out of state: $24,910	$32,394
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,558 Meal plan: $5,495	Room/dormitory: $6,430 Meal plan: $6,872
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	84.0% Average amount $10,460	100.0% Average amount $25,711
Students receiving federal student loan	54.0% Average amount $5,299	97.0% Average amount $5,101
Students taking out private loans	8.0% Average amount $13,629	13.0% Average amount $14,586

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	12,654 Men 46.4% Women 53.6%	1,197 Men 26.5% Women 73.5%
Graduate students	4,421 Men 35.0% Women 65.0%	1,069 Men 15.6% Women 84.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	4.4%	9.1%
International students	6.6%	0.6%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	6,867	770
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Maryland	New York Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New Jersey

Academics
Popular study areas	Education Business Public Administration and Social Service Health Professions Social Sciences	Health Professions Psychology Education Multidisciplinary Studies Business
Students to faculty ratio	18:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Middle States Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	66.3%	62.6%
Dropout rate	8.5%	37.4%
Transferred out	24.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Taxation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $70,203 Year 2: $74,307 Year 3: $95,473 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $63,947 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $92,782 Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $62,191 Year 2: $60,256 Year 3: $75,996 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $43,841 Year 2: $49,962 Year 3: $69,785 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $54,012 Year 2: $55,964 Year 3: $63,462 Public Health (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $54,175 Year 2: $49,270 Year 3: $61,387 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $46,902 Year 2: $40,510 Year 3: $58,543 Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $55,701 Year 2: $52,733 Year 3: $55,488 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $43,798 Year 3: $52,904 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $42,404 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $52,601	Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $165,663 Year 2: $132,866 Year 3: $142,322 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,818 Year 2: $99,797 Year 3: $108,416 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $65,232 Year 2: $65,973 Year 3: $68,023 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $52,497 Year 2: $59,124 Year 3: $66,937 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $62,535 Year 2: $64,196 Year 3: $64,611 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $62,759 Year 2: $59,810 Year 3: $60,942 Psychology, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $51,412 Year 2: $49,784 Year 3: $57,983 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $47,260 Year 3: $57,628 Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,192 Year 2: $47,729 Year 3: $49,971 Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,305 Year 2: $40,791 Year 3: $47,907

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany?

Russell Sage College is a private, primarily undergraduate institution with a strong focus on women's leadership and professional programs. SUNY at Albany is a large, public research university offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Russell Sage offers a more intimate, personalized learning environment, while SUNY at Albany provides a broader range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Which college is larger: Russell Sage College or SUNY at Albany?

SUNY at Albany is significantly larger than Russell Sage College. SUNY at Albany has a much larger student body, faculty, and campus size compared to Russell Sage.
What types of academic programs are each college known for?

Russell Sage College is known for its programs in nursing, health sciences, education, and business, with a strong emphasis on preparing students for professional careers. SUNY at Albany is known for its programs in public policy, criminal justice, information science, business, and atmospheric science, and offers a wider array of research opportunities.
How do the costs of attending Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany compare?

Russell Sage College, as a private institution, generally has a higher tuition cost than SUNY at Albany, which is a public university with lower tuition rates for New York State residents. However, financial aid packages can vary significantly, so it's important to compare the net cost (tuition minus financial aid) at both institutions based on your individual circumstances.
What is the campus environment like at Russell Sage College versus SUNY at Albany?

Russell Sage College offers a close-knit, supportive campus environment with smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty. SUNY at Albany has a more diverse and bustling campus environment with a wider range of student organizations, activities, and social opportunities. SUNY Albany also has a more traditional 'college town' feel with a larger surrounding community catering to students.
What are the admission requirements for Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany?

Both Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany require a strong academic record, including high school transcripts, standardized test scores (though test-optional policies may apply), and letters of recommendation. SUNY at Albany, being a larger public university, may have slightly more competitive admission standards overall, particularly for certain programs.
What kind of student life and extracurricular activities are available at each college?

Russell Sage College offers a variety of clubs, organizations, and athletic teams, with a focus on student leadership and community involvement. SUNY at Albany boasts a much larger and more diverse range of extracurricular activities, including numerous clubs, organizations, sports teams, performing arts groups, and student government opportunities.
Where are Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany located?

Russell Sage College has two campuses: one in Troy, New York, and another in Albany, New York. SUNY at Albany's main campus is located in Albany, New York. Both are located in the Capital Region of New York State, offering access to cultural attractions, internships, and job opportunities.
Which college is better for research opportunities?

SUNY at Albany generally offers more extensive research opportunities due to its status as a major research university. It has numerous research centers and institutes, and faculty are actively involved in research across a wide range of disciplines. While Russell Sage College offers research opportunities, they are typically on a smaller scale.
How do the career services and alumni networks compare between the two colleges?

Both Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany offer career services to help students with internships, job searches, and career planning. SUNY at Albany has a larger alumni network due to its larger size and longer history. However, Russell Sage College's alumni network is known for being supportive and engaged, particularly within specific professional fields.
Does either college have a specific focus on women's education?

Russell Sage College has a historical and ongoing commitment to women's education and leadership development. While it is now co-educational, it retains a strong focus on empowering women and providing opportunities for them to excel in their chosen fields. SUNY at Albany is co-educational and does not have a specific focus on women's education, but it is committed to diversity and inclusion.
What are the graduation rates like at Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany?

Graduation rates can vary depending on the specific program and student demographics. It's best to consult the official websites of Russell Sage College and SUNY at Albany for the most up-to-date graduation rate data. Generally, private institutions like Russell Sage may have slightly higher graduation rates due to smaller class sizes and more personalized support, but this is not always the case.

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