Troy is a college town: 17 of every 100 residents are students
Hudson Valley Community College (7,760 students on campus) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (7,024) are inside the city, and Siena College (3,611) is 4.1 miles from the center, just over the line in Colonie. Across New York, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in 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 Troy. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
17
47,159 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Residents in college
17%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
0.5 mi
Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing · $15,358 tuition
Nearest public university
8.3 mi
University at Albany · $10,866 in-state
Students on campus in Troy
16,768
next to 50,912 residents
What stands out about college in Troy
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 22.7% of Troy residents are below the poverty line, 21.2% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 40% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.
Cost of living C+
The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 17%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.
Health B−
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Troy’s median age is 32.3 (New York 39.8), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Safety D
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
Every college
Colleges within 15 miles of Troy
14 private colleges within 14.1 miles, one public college within 8.3 miles, and six community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where Troy’s median household income ($58,477) falls.
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 within 15 miles of Troy: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
University at Albany61% graduate$68k earnings$20k typical debt
Hudson Valley Community College35% graduate$45k earnings$11k typical debt
Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing50% graduate$64k earnings$15k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus (3); Bryant & Stratton College-Albany (8).
Majors
What students study in Troy
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Troy’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesHudson Valley Community College · 276 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 250 graduates a year
$142k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringRensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 162 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsHudson Valley Community College · 129 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringRensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 117 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingRussell Sage College · 91 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission InstallersHudson Valley Community College · 76 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsHudson Valley Community College · 76 graduates a year
$85k4 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.
Questions about college in Troy
Is Troy a college town?
Yes. 17 of every 100 Troy residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across New York. Hudson Valley Community College has 7,760 students on campus, next to 50,912 residents.
What colleges are in Troy?
Hudson Valley Community College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Russell Sage College and Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing are inside the city. Siena College is 4.1 miles from the center, in Colonie.
Why is Troy’s poverty rate so high?
Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 22.7% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 21.2% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).
What is the closest community college to Troy, and what does it cost?
Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, 0.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $15,358 a year for New York residents.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Troy. 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 →
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0