Alvernia University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Alvernia University is a private nonprofit institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania with approximately 2,152 undergraduate students enrolled. Alvernia University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 58%. The average net price after financial aid is $28,138 per year. The graduation rate is 56%, and the typical graduate earns $47,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Alvernia University is a private Franciscan university in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded as Alvernia College in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis, the school gained university status in 2008.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 58% graduation rate and 73% freshman retention suggest a meaningful share of students don't make it to the finish line, which is worth asking about during a campus visit. On the upside, median debt at graduation is a relatively manageable $20,500, and the Franciscan, small-campus environment in Reading may appeal to students who want close faculty relationships and a values-driven community. Worth considering if you're drawn to health professions or social work programs, but go in with a plan to stay engaged — students who thrive here tend to be intentional about it.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% 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.
Alvernia University graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($75,705 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Accounting and Related Services ($67,562 vs $76,194).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 59 | $94,679 | $88,910 | +$5,769 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 49 | $56,203 | $61,296 | −$5,093 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 33 | $58,810 | $55,378 | +$3,432 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 31 | $75,705 | $68,257 | +$7,448 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 22 | $48,809 | $52,119 | −$3,310 |
| Psychology, General | 18 | $52,044 | $50,706 | +$1,338 |
| Social Work | 17 | $56,243 | $51,790 | +$4,453 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 14 | $67,562 | $76,194 | −$8,632 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 13 | $58,231 | $54,562 | +$3,669 |
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?
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
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,152 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Alvernia 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 Alvernia University?
Alvernia University has an acceptance rate of 58%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Alvernia University hard to get into?
Alvernia University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 58%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Alvernia University cost?
The average net price at Alvernia University is about $28,138 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 Alvernia University?
Alvernia University has a graduation rate of 56%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
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.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- 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.
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