Residence Life

Welcome to your home away from home!

At Russell Sage, our residence halls are more than just a place to store your belongings or decorate your walls — they are vibrant communities where learning, connection, and personal growth happen every day.

Living on campus places you at the center of campus life, offering opportunities to build friendships, engage with peers and staff, and make the most of your college experience. Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, residence life is designed to support your success both inside and outside the classroom.

Fall 2026 Move-In Dates

New Student Move-In:
Friday, August 21
Returning Student Move-In:
Sunday, August 23

As move-in approaches, you will receive additional details from Grace Giancola, Director of Residence Life, including instructions to sign up for a designated drop-off time to help make your arrival smooth and efficient.

If you have questions, please contact the Residence Life team at residencelife@sage.edu.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus and helping you feel at home.

Why Live on Campus?

Maintain your focus. Studies have shown that students who live on campus tend to spend more time studying, are more engaged with student activities, and are more likely to return to college the next fall.
Less stress. You’ll get your meals in the dining hall or any of the on-campus grab-and-go options, your laundry is on site (and you don’t pay extra to do it), you don’t have to worry about keeping up with utility bills and rent every month.
Better Parking. Parking is easily accessible in our lot (you don’t pay for a parking permit, either).
It’s safe. You have 24-7 Public Safety available to you on campus.
It’s convenient. You’ll be close to your classes and have an easier time getting involved in campus activities and clubs. (P.S. You’ll also have easy access to our fitness centers, libraries, and recreational spaces.)
You’ll find your people. Living in our residence halls is a great way to connect with other students, and our Resident Assistants (RAs) are always there to help.

Albany or Troy? How Do I Know What Campus I’ll Be Living On?

Russell Sage College offers intentionally designed residential programs on both the Albany and Troy campuses, accessible to all undergraduate students.

First-year students are housed on the campus where their academic program is located to more easily access their classes, study sessions, library, and lab facilities. If you’d like to live on the other campus, residence life can evaluate your request based on space availability, with preference given to student-athletes who hold their practices on the Albany campus.

Types of Housing

We have a mix of housing styles between our two campuses. And where you can live depends on your class standing. We have first-year residence halls on both campuses and then housing for “upperclass” students (our language for sophomores, juniors, and seniors).

First-year students are assigned to our traditional-style residence halls. Our traditional residence hall rooms are set up with two residents per room, and in each room you are provided with a bed, desk and chair, and closet. Single rooms are available in special circumstances, such as medical accommodations, and often as space allows. In this style of living, bathrooms are shared between the students living on the floor.

Learn more about first-year housing.

You’ll find these traditional-style residence halls on our Albany and Troy campuses:

In Albany, there is a single hall called Albany Campus Residence Hall (ACRH). Tour an ACRH room.
In Troy, we offer this style of housing in Kellas Hall. Tour a Kellas Hall room in Troy.

Brownstones: The Troy campus has traditional first-year residence halls, but students who are sophomores and older are able to live in the historic brownstone houses. Brownstone houses offer double, single, and triple rooms, with shared bathrooms on each floor.

Traditional-style Residence Halls: On the Troy campus, we offer a traditional-style residence hall experience in Slocum Hall and Sage Hall, which has double rooms and a communal bathroom on each floor.

Suite-style Living: On the Albany campus, upperclass students can choose to live in University Heights College Suites (UHCS). UHCS offers apartment-style living with fully furnished four-bedroom

Learn more about upperclass housing.

Applying for Housing

First-year students indicate they plan to live on campus when they apply to the college. After the deposit deadline, first-year resident students will receive an email from the Office of Residence Life containing links to both the housing contract and the roommate preference form.

Sophomores and other upperclass students apply for housing each year, using our housing lottery/application process, where preference is given based on academic standing. The housing lottery typically takes place in mid-April.

Applying for Residential Accommodations: Any student requiring housing accommodations of any type can learn about the residential accommodations application process.

2026-2027 New Student Housing Forms

All new undergraduate resident students need to apply for housing using the form below. This form includes the 2026-2027 Housing Contract, Housing Preference Form, and Meal Plan Selection.

Housing Forms & Meal Plan

Commuter Application

Students who wish to commute and meet the criteria set forth in the Colleges’ housing policy may apply to change their status using the Commuter Application form. Students under a current residence contract may be subject to a $200 contract breakage fee.

Commuter Application

Residence Hall Work Request

If you are having an issue that requires repair in your dorm room on either of Russell Sage College’s campuses, please submit a work order. This request for repairs goes directly to the Maintenance team for appraisal and completion.

Work Order Request

How Much Does It Cost?

We offer some of the most affordable housing in New York state – even less expensive than the SUNY campuses.

Institution	Housing and Meal Plan Annual Cost *(Double room and highest meal plan option)*
Russell Sage College	$14,048
Average SUNY*	$16,314
Capital Region Private College A	$16,570
Capital Region Private College B	$14,600
Central New York Private College	$15,660
Hudson Valley Private College	$17,710

Housing and meal plan costs

The Office of Residence Life Mission

Residence Life is dedicated to providing all Russell Sage College students with a safe and healthy campus environment through providing services orientated to promote:

Community: We are committed to a diverse and inclusive campus community driven by a partnership between students, faculty, and staff and supported by robust yet flexible housing and programming models.
Civility: We cultivate a respectful and compassionate environment of scholars connected by a common set of values supported by institutional policies and procedures.
Conduct: We believe in individual responsibility for community standards and decision making supported by a student conduct system based in restorative justice and focused on tangible learning outcomes.
Crisis Prevention and Response: We are committed to providing students with adequate support during and after times of personal crisis, understanding that students will experience challenges during their time at the institution.
Change: We utilize student development theory to support student growth outside of the classroom through campus housing and programming models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kellas, Slocum, and ACRH are separated by gender on each wing or floor. Currently, one of the floors in Slocum is gender neutral.

Brownstones and Sage Hall are entirely co-ed buildings, as each bathroom is private. They have bathrooms like at home where you go in and close/lock the door behind you. Slocum Hall is also co-ed, with both male and female communal bathrooms on the floor.

Learn more about co-educational housing at UHCS

Our rooms are not furnished with a refrigerator or microwave, so you’ll work out with your roommate who is bringing which appliance. Refrigerators must be 4 cubic feet or less. Microwaves must be 1,000 watts or less.

Each room is furnished with beds, dressers, closets, desks and chairs. Sinks can be found in some rooms. There are common bathrooms on each floor in most residence halls. All residence halls have lounges and laundry facilities. Vending machines and kitchens are available in many buildings.

We have a helpful packing list of things you should bring, and things you should not bring when you move in.

Internet access is provided in all residence hall rooms. (Students bring their own computers, televisions, phones and applicable accessories.)

Resident Assistants (RAs) are the student-staff available to answer your questions, direct you to appropriate offices on campus and plan floor activities. More importantly, your RA is available if you need someone for support and advice.