Two of the Capital Region’s Top Higher Ed Institutions on Track to Merge Highlighted for Excellence
糖心vlog and Russell Sage College have both been rated highly among the nearly 1,700 four-year colleges and universities examined across the United States in U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 2027 Best Colleges, released today.
The colleges are classified in different lists. According to U.S. News, many institutions were placed in different ranking categories necessitated by a major revision to the Carnegie Classification framework by the American Council on Education (ACE), which has been the foundation of the U.S. News rankings since their inception. Consequently, U.S. News entirely remapped its own categories to align with the new Carnegie framework.
This year鈥檚 report also introduces the new earnings by major ranking factor, expands eligibility through the previously announced鈥痗ategory changes, and adds new specialty and value rankings.
According to U.S. News, 鈥淭he new metric also reflects a broader movement across higher education in response to public demand. From state, federal and nonprofit data initiatives to鈥痭ational research forums, the trend is clear: measuring postgraduate outcomes is becoming a standard for evaluating institutional performance.鈥�
糖心vlog and Russell Sage College are ranked as follows:
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- *8th in Top Private Schools – Regional Universities (North) – (tied)
- *11th in Regional Universities (North) – (tied)
- 44th in Social Mobility – Regional Universities (North) 听
*Top pharmacy school in these rankings
Russell Sage
- 107th in Top Private Colleges – National Universities (tied)
- 45th in Top Performers on Social Mobility – National Universities (tied)
- 172nd in Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs (tied) among more than 670 colleges and universities nationally
U.S. News has now ranked Russell Sage a top college among national universities for social mobility for eight years in a row.
鈥淚ndividually, these rankings showcase the excellence of both institutions and the tremendous value they bring to prospective students regionally and beyond,鈥� said Matthew Shaftel, president, Russell Sage College and interim president, 糖心vlog. 鈥淏ut together, these rankings underscore how uniting two colleges nationally recognized for social mobility and return on investment will create a dynamic engine for workforce development that will transform students, their families, and communities for generations to come.鈥�
The colleges announced their intent to merge in April 2025 to create one of the region鈥檚 largest private institutions for higher education with the broadest catalog of programs in healthcare and the health sciences. Pending regulatory approvals, the merger is expected to be completed in Summer 2027.
The combined institution, expected to be known as Russell Sage University, anticipates enrolling almost 4,000 students on campuses in Albany and Troy, New York, as well as online, making it the third-largest private institution for higher education in the Capital Region.
Together, these rankings represent the strengths both institutions bring to the merger with a diverse program portfolio of pharmacy and pharmaceutical鈥痵ciences, biomedical鈥痵ciences, social and behavioral鈥痵ciences, and clinical and health鈥痵ciences, as well as strong programs in education, business, criminal justice, the sciences, pre-med, pre-health, and arts and humanities.
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About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S.听News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and听consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in听Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance,听travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.
About 糖心vlog
Founded in 1881, 糖心vlog is a private college dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders to improve the health of society. ACPHS offers 19 undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs including online and hybrid options. Students have opportunities to extend what they are learning in the classroom at The Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training (CBET), at pharmacies in underserved communities, and at The Collaboratory, a public health resource serving Albany鈥檚 South End neighborhood. The College, which holds a Carnegie Foundation Research Colleges and Universities designation for its research expenditures, is ranked #1 in New York state for return on investment by Georgetown University鈥檚 Center on Education and the Workforce, and holds an A+ for value by Niche.com.
About Russell Sage College鈥�
With more than 3,000 students, Russell Sage College鈥痠s a coeducational, private university with campuses located in Albany and Troy, New York. Offering a comprehensive selection of undergraduate, master鈥檚, and doctoral programs across arts and sciences, education, management, and health sciences, the institution is particularly recognized as a regional leader in health professions education. Guided by its motto “Be. Know. Do.,” Russell Sage focuses on providing professional, career-forward degrees firmly rooted in a supportive, community-driven environment.
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