Sage College of Albany (SCA) is a gem in the heart of New York’s capital city. You might know that SCA is one half of a two-campus community that make up the Sage Colleges. However, that is only the tip of the iceberg with SCA. While the Albany campus has a cozy feel, the co-educational campus of approximately 1200+ students has a host of pre-professional programs such as graphic and interior design and business. The SCA also has a strong fine arts program and is host to the Sage After Work program and a string of the colleges graduate programs such as Management/Business and Community Psychology. The professors and administrators on this intimate campus know the students which builds community, accountability, and student engagement in their academic, co-curricular, and professional lives.
What struck us on our visit and tour of the campus was student accessibility to all that SCA has to offer. Our contact and guide during our visit, Paige Collins an Assistant Director of Admissions, made it clear that SCA’s commitment is to develop students who are well-prepared for careers in their chosen field. That sense of commitment spills over into the daily lives of the professors and administrators in a way that only can happen on a small campus where students, staff, and faculty meet in and out of class.
While the Sage Colleges are set on two distinct campuses with different offerings, students have access to much more than they might at a single campus. Students can use the free shuttle service between the colleges to attend classes, events, or to explore the sister cities. The other half to the Sage Colleges puzzle is the Russell Sage Campus located in downtown Troy. This women-only undergraduate program has a traditional liberal arts bent plus a number of professional programs such as Physical Therapy and Nursing. (Please note, the linked Physical Therapy program is available to students at either undergraduate campus while the graduate portion is based on the Troy campus only). The RC campus is also home to many of Sage College’s graduate programs. We will venture across the Hudson to visit this campus soon (stay tuned for more information).
SCA is a private school with a steep cost of attendance. Sage boasts merit-based scholarship aid to qualified students which can slash the price tag for some students. Sage is also rightly proud of its financial aid policy which promises to meet applicants’ demonstrated financial need. These awards make a Sage education possible for many of the current students and sweeten the possibilities for future students.
SCA, located in the University Heights area of Albany, New York, presents what many students might agree is the best of both worlds –a small residential campus with all the excitement and opportunities of a thriving urban environment. Sage‘s class size of approximately eighteen per class allows students to get to know their professors and become involved on campus. The Albany campus offers traditional double-style housing for first year students and suite-style living for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
The college boasts a brand new vaulted gallery and lecture hall, the Opalka Gallery, which features visiting artist and student projects throughout the year. On our visit we were able to see the senior design exhibit which showcased seniors’ graduation projects. The show was impressive and abundant in media such as photography, interior design, ceramics and graphic design. The show gave us a sense of the creativity and diversity of media available to SCA students.
For students seeking a small urban school, Sage College of Albany deserves a close look.
