Russell Sage College
Troy, New York · Private Nonprofit · 53.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 57/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Russell Sage College is a small private school in Troy, New York with a Below Average Value ROI score of 57. The fundamental problem is a 56.1% completion rate - meaning nearly half of students who start don't finish. The Registered Nursing program is the clear standout, with 91 graduates earning $73,302 at year one - but the overall school profile is dragged down by weak completion. A 42% Pell Grant rate means the school serves a significant number of lower-income students who face these headwinds. The net price of $22,917 looks reasonable until you factor in the 9.9-year payback period and a repayment rate of only 70.9%. The 30-48k income bracket shows a $41,141 net price, which may reflect a data error or atypical aid packaging in that income tier.
Russell Sage College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,164/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,164/yr |
| Average net price | $22,917/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,668 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,316 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,244 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $38,164/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,917/year, or roughly $91,668 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,662/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,526/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,000, which works out to about $233 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,400) and comes to 0.56, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,662 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $41,141 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,326 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,302 |
| $110,001+ | $26,526 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $6,662 per year - a genuinely affordable entry point. At that price, even the modest six-year earnings of $39,400 can work for nursing or health program graduates. The risk is the completion rate: students who don't finish face debt without the degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket shows $41,141 - an anomalously high figure that appears inconsistent with the other brackets and may reflect data irregularity. The 48-75k bracket is $21,326, the 75-110k bracket $24,302.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,526 per year. Nursing is the program that stands apart from the school's overall earnings profile.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Russell Sage College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $89,836 | B |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $68,647 | B |
| Psychology | $50,446 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,753 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $51,080 | C+ |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,485 | D |
| Social Sciences, Other | $54,363 | D |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $70,329 | B |
| Accounting | $55,125 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
The anchor program at Russell Sage, with 91 graduates earning $73,302 at year one - well above the national nursing average. Four-year earnings of $89,836 reflect Albany-region hospital wages and career advancement. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.368, ROI grade B. Nursing graduates from Sage enter a regional labor market with consistent demand from Albany Medical Center and surrounding hospital systems. The $27,000 median debt load is manageable relative to starting wages. This is the program that makes Russell Sage worth considering.
Health Professions, Residency Programs
36 graduates with no 1-year earnings data but $68,647 at four years. Debt-to-earnings of 0.393, ROI grade B. This program covers clinical health professions training that leads into direct patient care roles. The four-year earnings suggest solid outcomes for graduates who complete. The program complements nursing as a pathway for students oriented toward clinical work without the nursing track specifically.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Russell Sage College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 53.3% |
| Enrollment | 1,244 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,600 |
Russell Sage admits 53.3% of applicants. The school does not report SAT or ACT band data. Selectivity is modest; accessibility is relatively high. Students should weigh this against the completion rate - not all who enroll will finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage College (this school) | 57 | $22,917 | $58,316 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Hendrix College | 58 | $24,149 | $60,376 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
Who Thrives Here
Students with a clear healthcare career path - especially nursing - will find Russell Sage a viable option. The nursing program's 91 graduates and strong earnings justify the investment for that group specifically. The high Pell rate suggests the school's financial aid reach extends to lower-income families, but the 56.1% completion rate is a genuine risk factor.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Russell Sage College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $22,917 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,316 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Russell Sage College: Common Questions
Is Russell Sage College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Russell Sage College scores 57/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,917 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,316 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Russell Sage College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,917 a year, or roughly $91,668 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Russell Sage College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,316 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,516 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Russell Sage College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.9 years for Russell Sage College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Russell Sage College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,000, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Russell Sage College?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.