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Russell Sage College and merger partner Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) 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’s 2027 Best Colleges, released in September 2026.
The colleges are classified on different lists: Russell Sage is on the National Universities list, and ACPHS is on the Regional Universities (North) list. As part of a new system at U.S. News, ACPHS was included in the rankings this year, and it was the top-ranked pharmacy school in both the overall Regional Universities (North) rankings and the Top Private Schools – Regional Universities (North) list.
Russell Sage was named a Top Performer on Social Mobility (tied at 45th) for the eighth consecutive year. It was the highest-ranked private institution in the Northeast once again.
“Individually, these rankings showcase the excellence of both institutions and the tremendous value they bring to prospective students regionally and beyond,” said Matthew Shaftel, president, Russell Sage College and interim president, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “But 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.”
Russell Sage College and ACPHS are ranked as follows:
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
ACPHS
- 8th in Top Private Schools – Regional Universities (North) – (tied)
- 11th in Regional Universities (North) – (tied)
- 44th in Social Mobility – Regional Universities (North)
The colleges announced their intent to merge in April 2025 to create one of the region’s 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, 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. The merged institution will have the region’s broadest catalog of programs in healthcare, including pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, mental health counseling, and health and biomedical sciences. Russell Sage also boasts standout programs in education, business, criminal justice and forensic psychology, the sciences, and arts and humanities, providing endless options and a robust college experience for students.
See the full 2027 Best Colleges rankings.