Your Transfer Journey

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We’re among the best

For the fifth year in a row, Russell Sage College was named to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer Honor Roll, which recognized just 228 colleges in the country for the way they serve transfer students and their transfer students’ success.

The spring 2025 semester starts on January 21. Applications for Fall and Summer 2025 start terms are open. If you are interested in starting in the spring, please contact [email protected].

Application Requirements:

Application submitted via our online application.
Official college transcripts for all schools attended.
Personal statement or essay.
Letter of recommendation.

*A portfolio review or audition is required for the Visual Arts and Performing Arts program.

Download Your Transfer Checklist

Get your guide to stay on track during your transfer journey.

Transfer Checklist Fall 2024 PDF Document Cover

Why Transfer to Russell Sage College?

$18,500

In merit scholarships

Merit scholarships start at $18,500 per year guaranteed for up to three years with more aid available based on financial need or other factors.

credits

You can transfer up to 75 credits to Russell Sage College.

We’re among the best:
For the fifth year in a row, Russell Sage College was named to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer Honor Roll, which recognized just 228 colleges in the country for the way they serve transfer students and their transfer students’ success.
Professors love to talk to prospective transfer students:
Want to dive deeper into the curriculum or get to know the faculty before you decide? We can connect you with our professors during the admissions process.
Your experience counts:
We recognize students come to us with employment, military, community service, or personal life experience that has given them expertise in certain areas. We offer the opportunity for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) if students demonstrate college-level learning through a written portfolio.
Want to live on campus (or at least eat there)?
No housing waiting lists here. And we consider commuter students in our meal plans so you can grab a bite to eat before classes without having to buy a large plan.
We have a top nursing program:
With more than 100 years of history, a state-of-the-art simulation lab, and a special partnership with Albany Med Health System, there’s a reason our name is synonymous with nursing. And unlike many other colleges and universities, we’re transfer friendly for nursing students with a GPA requirement of 3.0. Do you already have a bachelor’s degree but want to become a nurse? Check out our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Outstanding master’s degree programs:
Transfer here and stay here for any of our two dozen graduate degree programs, which are competitively priced – even with public universities. You might even be able to start some of those courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

See Our Articulation Agreements With Other Colleges and Universities

We know community college is a pathway for many of our students to their bachelor’s degree, and that undergraduate students often pursue fields requiring advanced degrees. To make for a smooth pathway from community colleges and from undergraduate programs to graduate ones, we’ve formed agreements with many institutions specific to our programs that allow for a seamless transition.

Looking at these agreements early on in your educational planning helps guide you in which courses to take and how your classes will transfer.

View Agreements

Business Administration Bachelor's , Graphic + Media Design

“My transition to Sage as a transfer student has been wonderful, if I could go back and make a different choice about college, I would have much rather gone to Sage for all four years.”

Jennifer Stuart

Business Administration Bachelor’s , Graphic + Media Design

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have enrolled at a college, community college, or university AFTER completing high school, home school, or your GED, then you are a transfer student! Have a unique story and still aren’t sure? Email us at [email protected]u, and we can chat further.

High school students who already know they’ll be enrolling at a community college before applying to Sage. It’s never too early to reach out, and we can help make sure you’re on the right path with your community college curriculum.
Community college students who are ready to take that step toward their bachelor’s degree. Some students have earned an associate degree and others haven’t. We’ll evaluate all of your courses either way!
Students at four-year colleges or universities who are looking for a change or different experience.
Students that previously started a degree but for various reasons couldn’t finish. We can help you get to that degree completion.

Transcripts from any college you attended must be submitted to Russell Sage.
Requesting transcripts from other colleges can be done through that college’s Registrar Office. Most transcripts can be sent electronically for the quickest service, but that can vary depending on the school. Paper hard-copy transcripts are also available.
Official transcripts must come directly from the College you requested them from. Please have the college direct them to the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Russell Sage. This is necessary regardless of the number of credits earned, even if the information appears on another institution’s transcript. Failure to report all previously attended colleges on the application will cause a delay in the application process.
Electronic transcripts may be emailed from the transfer college directly to Russell Sage College, [email protected] or through US mail: Russell Sage College, Office of Admission, 65 First Street, Troy, NY 12180.

Russell Sage is among the most affordable private colleges in New York state, and having been ranked a top college in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report for the last six years, you can see we value college access.

Learn more about how the great value of a Russell Sage education is within your reach on our special financial aid pages for transfer students.

Actually, being a transfer student is very common. On average, 37% of Russell Sage’s incoming undergraduate class each year is made up of transfer students – whether they started at a community college or at a four-year college that just didn’t end up being right for them.

Nationally, over 13% of undergraduates transfer college in a given year.

Transfer students tell us they feel at home at Russell Sage because they can find a community here – whether in our commuter lounge or in our many student clubs and organizations.

And we’ve been consistently recognized by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a transfer honors society, as a top college for transfer students.

Affordability: Transfer students at Russell Sage College will receive merit and institutional scholarships that are based on their GPA, and those scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year range from $18,500 to $20,500 per year guaranteed for up to three years with more aid available based on financial need or other factors. Are you a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)? You can qualify for an additional $1,000 grant. And because our sticker price is among the most affordable private colleges in New York state, it makes us a competitive option – even when compared with public universities.

Our supportive path: Transfer students become part of our Gator Gateway, which is a guided path for undergraduate students. That means a lot of things, including a focus on your 8 Dimensions of Wellness, supportive guides throughout your journey, a one-stop shop for getting your questions answered, and taking our unique RSC 301: Innovating to Impact course, where you get to build your resume and skills – and do good work in the community.

Find a community: Transfer students tell us they appreciate amenities like a dedicated lounge for commuters and the vast options for joining clubs and organizations. They say it’s easy to find their fit.

Stay for grad school: And because graduate programs are also a large part of what we do, you’ll have a smooth path to flexible and affordable advanced degree programs, which are necessary in many of the fields we serve, including healthcare and education.

Yes! We are the only Capital Region college offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students who already hold bachelor’s degrees in another field. Our program takes just 16 months. Learn more about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program here.

Absolutely! And we have a wider selection of housing types for our upperclass students, including our historic brownstone houses on our Troy campus and our suite-style apartments on our Albany campus. As a top college in the nation for social mobility, we also have the most affordable housing options around, with students’ housing and meal plans costing less than even public institutions like SUNY. Review all the options here.

Russell Sage accepts Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Dual Enrollment credits. We know this is a popular question, so we built an online guide for you to walk you through the process. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for on that page? Reach out to us at [email protected].

We have more than two dozen agreements with other colleges and universities to make for a smoother transition for our students. Check out the full list of articulation agreements organized by college or university on our website.

“I transferred to Russell Sage for the physical therapy program and the community, It was important to me to connect with my professors and I knew right away that RSC faculty prioritized strong relationships with students.”

Sadie Busone

Health Sciences with Physical Therapy Track Transfer Student

Transfer Resources: Transferology

With a Transferology account, you can compare courses from your current college with courses offered at Sage. It is free to create an account, and user-friendly. Don’t see your courses listed? Don’t stress! We’ll work with our faculty to see how your credits can come in.

Students may view a list of their approved transfer credits in their Self Service account. Go to Self Service – Student Planning – Academics Menu – Transfer Summary Link. Note: Transfer credits are accepted/posted to students’ records based on their declared major program upon admission to the College.

Transferology

Official transcripts are required for transfer credits to be uploaded to your Sage record. The transfer college Registrar’s Office sends directly to Sage an official transcript.

Send to (two options):

Email: electronic transcripts are emailed from the transfer college directly to Sage, [email protected]
US Mail: Russell Sage College, Office of Admission, 65 First Street, Troy, NY 12180

Prior approval is required. See the Transfer Credit Permission Form (Sage Registrar’s Office Google form) in Self Service (Academics Menu) for more information.
See the Undergraduate Catalog for the Transfer Credit Policy.