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Downtown Saratoga SpringsPhoto: UpstateNYer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs is home to two colleges, with 3,544 students on campus

Skidmore College (2,776 students on campus) and Empire State University (768) are inside the city. About 12% of Saratoga Springs’ residents are enrolled in college, above New York (7%).

Skidmore College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Saratoga Springs. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
3,544 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Empire State
Residents in college
12%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
19.5 mi
Schenectady County · $6,190 tuition
Nearest public university
26.5 mi
University at Albany · $10,866 in-state
Median household income
$106K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Saratoga Springs

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in Saratoga SpringsSkidmore College has 2,776 students on campus in Saratoga Springs, 83% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 19.5 miles awaySchenectady County Community College in Schenectady: tuition and fees $6,190 a year for New York residents.In-state price at University at AlbanyLiving in New York, University at Albany charges $10,866 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $31,256. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 12% of residentsAbove New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Saratoga Springs

One private college within 2.1 miles, and one public college within 0.7 miles. The nearest public four-year college, University at Albany, is 26.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSkidmore CollegeEmpire StateSaratoga Springs
University or collegeCommunity college
Empire State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 768 on campus · In Saratoga Springs · mostly online$12knet price41%graduate$54kearnings92% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Skidmore CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,776 on campus · In Saratoga Springs21%admitted$32knet price83%graduate$69kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Saratoga Springs’ median household income ($105,944) falls.

Empire State UniversityIn Saratoga Springs · mostly online · sticker $19,699$16,481a year
University at Albany26.5 mi · Albany · sticker $28,802$20,037a year
Skidmore CollegeIn Saratoga Springs · sticker $85,270$22,438a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Empire StateSkidmore CollegeUniversity at Albany
University at Albany61% graduate$68k earnings$20k typical debt
Skidmore College83% graduate$69k earnings$20k typical debt
Empire State University41% graduate$54k earnings$19k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Saratoga Springs

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Skidmore College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 16%Business 15%Visual & performing arts 13%Biology 9%Psychology 9%English 5%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Business/Commerce, General105 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out
Psychology, General98 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Fine and Studio Arts44 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, General36 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research31 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government31 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences27 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General25 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Empire State University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Saratoga Springs

Is Saratoga Springs a college town?

No. About 12 of every 100 Saratoga Springs residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New York (7). The largest campus in the city, Skidmore College, has 2,776 students on campus.

What colleges are in Saratoga Springs?

Skidmore College and Empire State University are inside the city. Schenectady County Community College is 19.5 miles away in Schenectady.

What is the closest community college to Saratoga Springs, and what does it cost?

Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, 19.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,190 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $8,947, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does University at Albany cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $10,866 a year in-state and $31,256 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,112 (under $30,000 income) to $24,085 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Saratoga Springs. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →