As of June 3, 2026, Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have completed the change in ownership step of the merger transaction, with the final merger contingent upon U.S. Department of Education approval, anticipated by summer 2027.
To form Russell Sage University together, Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are taking the next steps toward aligning their organizational structures. The U.S. Department of Education refers to this as a “change in ownership.” Until that review is complete, both colleges will continue to operate separately, each with its own programs, people, and identity.
The change in ownership follows the May 19 vote by the New York State Board of Regents granting provisional approval for the merger of Russell Sage and ACPHS to become Russell Sage University. The merger has also been provisionally approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which serves as the accrediting body for both colleges.
Pending all regulatory approvals, Russell Sage University will welcome its first class as the region’s premier healthcare-forward comprehensive university in fall 2027. Russell Sage won’t start using the university name until then.
Russell Sage University will enroll an anticipated 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. The merger unites two colleges nationally recognized for social mobility and return on investment, creating a dynamic engine for workforce development that will transform students, their families, and communities.
With combined assets of approximately $246 million, 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.