Russell Sage College has been ranked No. 22 among national universities in the 2025 Top Performers on Social Mobility rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The distinction is calculated based on graduation rates of Pell-awarded and first-generation students, and the rankings included 433 institutions.

Russell Sage has landed in the top 25 every year since U.S. News & World Report launched the Top Performers on Social Mobility category in its 2020 rankings. Not all Capital Region colleges and universities are listed in the publication’s “National Universities” category, but Russell Sage College is the highest ranked among those that are, with University at Albany coming in at No. 26.

Within the category, Russell Sage was the third highest-ranked institution in New York state – behind two public universities – and the highest-ranked private college in the Northeast (north of Washington, D.C.). It shared the 22nd spot with University of South Florida, University of California Santa Cruz, and Keiser University in Florida.

“With our 108-year history of combining a broad education with professional training, the holistic Thrive@Russell Sage initiative, our innovative Gator Gateway, and our unique portfolio of graduate programs, we are providing a signature transformational experience to students from every background and from every stage of life,” said Russell Sage President Matthew Shaftel.

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