Skip to main content
CollegeHelpGuide
Alfred University logo

Alfred University

Alfred, NY·Private nonprofit·1,423 students
Last updated: March 22, 2026

A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.

74%
Accept
1,423
Students
$25,620
Net Price
57%
Grad Rate
$47,300
Earnings
10 yr
$26,000
Debt

About This School

Alfred University is a private nonprofit institution located in Alfred, New York with approximately 1,423 undergraduate students enrolled. Alfred University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 74%. The average net price after financial aid is $25,620 per year. The graduation rate is 57%, and the typical graduate earns $47,300 within 10 years of enrollment.

Alfred University is a private university in Alfred, New York, United States. It has a total undergraduate population of approximately 1,600 students. The university hosts the statutory New York State College of Ceramics, which includes The Inamori School of Engineering and the School of Art and Design.

The numbers tell a mixed story here — the 56% graduation rate is a real concern, meaning nearly half of students who start don't finish, and median earnings of $47,300 a decade out are modest for a private school costing $22,701/year after aid. That said, this is a strong option for students seriously interested in art, design, or engineering, particularly through the nationally recognized New York State College of Ceramics, which gives Alfred a genuine specialty most small schools can't match. If you're committed to those fields and can get a strong aid package, the relatively low median debt of $17,751 at graduation makes the investment more defensible.

Founded
1836
Setting
Distant rural
Avg Faculty Salary
$7,390

Popular Programs

Visual & Performing Arts22%
Engineering21%
Business & Marketing19%
Psychology9%
Education6%
Social Sciences5%
Biological Sciences2%
Communications2%

Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.

Notable Alumni

Melvil DeweyRobert LittellRobert KleinAmy KarleTom Reed

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

Test Policy: Considered but not required

SAT Scores

Average Composite1279
Reading 75th %ile660
Math 75th %ile650

ACT Scores

Midpoint Composite25

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$41,500
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,500
Avg Net Price
$25,620
after aid

Net Price by Family Income

Under $30k$16,512
$30–48k$15,067
$48–75k$22,125
$75–110k$28,280
$110k+$33,388

Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants39%
Median debt at graduation$26,000

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
57%
within 6 years
Retention Rate
78%
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$47,300
after enrollment
Median Debt
$26,000
at graduation

Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender

Male graduates$38,700
Female graduates$30,300

Gap: 22% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.

What Each Major Actually Earns

Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.

Alfred University graduates earn most above the national rate in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($49,612 vs $47,382 nationally), and most below it in Engineering, Other ($71,845 vs $93,989).

MajorGradsHereNationalDiff
Fine and Studio Arts63$38,877$41,367$2,490
Psychology, General30$47,445$50,706$3,261
Mechanical Engineering28$79,452$92,135$12,683
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods22$49,612$47,382+$2,230
Business Administration, Management and Operations21$61,629$68,257$6,628
Engineering, Other15$71,845$93,989$22,144
Criminal Justice and Corrections11$57,570$55,378+$2,192
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering8$83,641$83,947$306
Accounting and Related Services6$55,250$76,194$20,944
Marketing3$55,339$69,303$13,964

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$26,000
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$34,900
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$47,300
after enrollment
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio: 1.8x

Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White64%
Black7%
Hispanic/Latino11%
Asian2%
Two or more races4%
International9%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,423 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Alfred University

One Saxon Drive

Alfred, NY 14802-1205

View on Google Maps →

Schools Like This in New York

Browse all New York schools →

See How Colleges Compare

Alfred University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Alfred University?

Alfred University has an acceptance rate of 74%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Is Alfred University hard to get into?

Not especially. Alfred University has an acceptance rate of 74%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.

How much does Alfred University cost?

The average net price at Alfred University is about $25,620 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.

What is the graduation rate at Alfred University?

Alfred University has a graduation rate of 57%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.