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Russell Sage College has been ranked in the top 25 among national universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Top Performers on Social Mobility rankings for the seventh straight year. The college also ranked 36th among national universities on the Best Value Schools list, behind Cornell University, University of Rochester, and Binghamton University.
The 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings were released September 23.
Russell Sage has landed in the top 25 for social mobility 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 tied with University at Albany, which also came in at No. 22.
The distinction is calculated based on graduation rates of Pell-awarded and first-generation students, and the rankings included 433 institutions.
“Social mobility and empowerment of students is in our DNA, and it continues to be our focus today,” said Russell Sage President Matthew Shaftel. “A college degree leads to higher earnings, increased well-being, and longer lifespans. Sage will continue to be a lead player in making college more accessible and obtainable – adding value to students’ lives no matter where they start.”
Within the social mobility category, Russell Sage was the third highest-ranked institution in New York state – behind two public universities and tied with another – and the highest-ranked private college in the Northeast (north of Washington, D.C.).
In the Best Value Schools category for national universities, no other Capital Region colleges cracked the top 50. The category recognizes colleges and universities based on academic quality and net cost of attendance.