2024 Best Colleges for Performing Arts in the Albany Area

• Saratoga Springs, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  661 reviews

Junior: I love my experience at Skidmore. My first year, I was able to take a variety of classes in different departments to figure out where I felt most at home, and many of our classes are interdisciplinary. It is easy and encouraged to have multiple majors/minors, and most professors are amazing! They truly are a great resource that I was not expecting to have, especially coming from a bigger high school. I have been fortunate to hold several campus jobs, including being a tour guide, tutor, and RA. There are also tons of opportunities for students to get involved in administrative, career-preparing work through our SGA and various campus committees--most searches and voting committees will have at least one student representative, and overall the opportunities are vast.... Read 661 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 31%

• Net price $31,553

• SAT range 1270-1440

• Troy, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  560 reviews

Junior: My college experience thus far has been incredibly impressive. I knew I was in for an extraordinary journey from the moment I stepped onto campus. I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from professors who have become passionate mentors. Their guidance and support have opened my mind to new perspectives and challenged me to reach my full potential. Additionally, being part of the soccer club has been a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people who share my love for the sport. My college experience has been a perfect blend of academic growth, personal development, and vibrant social life, leaving me with a profound sense of gratitude and excitement for the years ahead.... Read 560 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $22,713

• SAT range —

• Albany, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  2,497 reviews

Senior: Hey, so I'm a senior at University at Albany, SUNY, and I'm loving it so far! The variety of academic programs is awesome, and I'm already eyeing some research opportunities. Campus facilities are pretty modern, but some classes are big. It'd be cool if they had smaller ones. Super diverse student body, which is great. Location-wise, being in Albany is sweet – lots of chances for internships and stuff. Maybe some more parking options would be nice, and I've heard mixed things about student support services. But overall, I'm excited to see how my time here unfolds! 😄🎓... Read 2,497 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $17,350

• SAT range 1090-1280

• Troy, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  631 reviews

Freshman: I'm an incoming Freshman at Hudson Valley Community College, starting later this month. I visited the school out of curiosity for their new Welding Technologies associate degree program. I found the campus and all the services offered to be great. The Welding lab, including the Virtual Welding equipment was excellent and well set up. By the end of my visit, I knew that I wanted to attend this school and I applied immediately. I will be able to really increase my welding skills and be better prepared for my career. The college made the application and registration process very easy, with most things taken care of online or by email. This helped tremendously since I have a full-time job and wasn't able to visit or call the school during my workday. Once I start my classes I'll change my working hours to part time so that I can both focus on my studies and take part in some of the campus activities. I am very excited to begin!... Read 631 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,713

• SAT range —

• Loudonville, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  888 reviews

Sophomore: I transfered to Siena during my freshman year. The staff and professors could not have made my transition more seamless and easy. The campus is small, but it's perfect for those who wish to go to a small school. It's a Catholic school, but you wouldn't guess that by the student body. If you're looking for smaller classes for more attention from professors, Siena is exactly that. Loudonville is a small and cute little town with great food options and lots of shopping. Everyone I have met so far is extremely nice and kind, and I'm so glad I chose Siena!... Read 888 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $32,810

• SAT range 1020-1220

• Schenectady, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  614 reviews

Alum: I came to Union and Upstate NY from California, looking for a small liberal arts college which could support an array of my interests - from art to lacrosse, studying abroad to inner-city work. I loved the small class sizes, the driven, highly-intelligent professors, and the accessibility of everything on campus due to it being a smaller school. I was always able to find time to get work done with classmates or professors, and found Union to be a very comfortable place to be pushed academically while still feeling immensely supported. I played four years of lacrosse for a Nationally ranked NCAA program, was able to study abroad in multiple countries, and still found time to create friendships with professors and peers which Im confidant will last for my lifetime. While some knock Schenectady - the city was being fully revamped while I was there. Farmers Markets, small-businesses, restaurants, and volunteer organizations have made great use of the energy which Schenectady still has.... Read 614 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 47%

• Net price $39,101

• SAT range 1270-1450

• Schenectady, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  273 reviews

Sophomore: I really like the people and environment! SUNY Schenectady is always making an effort to renovate and improve their space for students, and the students there are all open and inviting. The professors are all super understanding and have your back 24/7! They have multiple spots on campus to get food and have open spaces to meet friends. They have a lovely space outdoors that is perfect to be between classes, and a new library with all the books and textbooks to help you with your academics. They also have free tutoring for pretty much every class! They offer in person and online tutoring. They even have free events throughout semesters with food, games, and raffles. The only thing I took of points for was that some professors are extremely hard graders (but you'll find them everywhere! No college is perfect). Especially for online classes, it's harder for professors to connect with their students so they are not as lenient when it comes to late work or extra credit to improve grades.... Read 273 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,312

• SAT range —