Alvernia University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Reading, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,152 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes40
Value19
Affordability40
Selectivity64
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 58.1%, Alvernia University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
58.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1093 – 1286
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alvernia University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Alvernia University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,138 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,138
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
83%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$45,000
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,460
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,550
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,510
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,565
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,436
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,701
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,131
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,016
Over $110,000
$32,152
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,22010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$40,99990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,039
↓ $4,961
No Pell $19,500
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $23,750
↓ $3,250
Female students $23,605
↓ $3,395
Male students $14,250
↓ $12,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Alvernia University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alvernia University earn a median of $55,055 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,055
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,400, about 12% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Alvernia University is home to 2,152 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,152
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.7%1,306
Hispanic 17.1%367
Black 10.8%232
Other 3.7%80
International 3.2%69
Asian 1.6%34
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alvernia University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityReading, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential956 beds on campus
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Alvernia University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
49 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alvernia University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$112M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,260
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
122 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
15%
$87,048
Associate Professors
29
24%
$73,673
Assistant Professors
47
39%
$70,473
Instructors
28
23%
$59,934
Pros & Cons of Alvernia University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alvernia University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about Alvernia University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alvernia University.
Is Alvernia University hard to get into?
Admissions at Alvernia University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 58.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Alvernia University?
Alvernia University has an acceptance rate of 58.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Alvernia University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Alvernia University scored between 1093 and 1286 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Alvernia University cost?
The average net price after aid at Alvernia University is $28,138 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alvernia University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,055 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,138 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alvernia University known for?
Alvernia University is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Rehabilitation, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alvernia University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alvernia University are $55,055, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Alvernia University accredited?
Yes. Alvernia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Alvernia University?
Alvernia University enrolls 2,152 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alvernia University?
Alvernia University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alvernia University a public or private college?
Alvernia University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Alvernia University located?
Alvernia University is located in Reading, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Alvernia University offer?
Alvernia University offers 49 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Rehabilitation, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alvernia University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alvernia University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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