Alvernia University
- Graduation Rate
- 57% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,055 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $28,138 F
- 64% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 58% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 10.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,117,020.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 35% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.19% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Alvernia University Matters
Alvernia University is a private doctoral / professional university in Reading, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,152
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Alvernia University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 58% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1093–1286. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,138 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,055 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Alvernia University, with an enrollment of about 2,152 students, appeals to those seeking a personalized educational experience in a close-knit community. The programs in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Biology & Biomedical, and Education are among the highlights, allowing students to dive deep into fields that matter to them. If you’re looking for a place where you can engage directly with professors and peers, this might be a good fit.
After graduation, students see an average earnings of $55,055 within ten years. This figure is important as it reflects the potential return on investment for your education. While the graduation rate sits at 57%, the school’s focus on student support can help those who might need a little more time to complete their degrees. Affordability plays a role here too; many students rely on financial aid, and the median debt for graduates is about $27,000, which is manageable compared to potential earnings.
When considering the practical side of attending Alvernia, the net price after aid is approximately $28,138. This cost, alongside the debt load, suggests that students who thrive here often come from diverse economic backgrounds, and those who engage fully with the resources available tend to find their footing. If you’re motivated and ready to make the most of what the university has to offer, you could see significant personal and professional growth during and after your time at Alvernia.
Rankings
- #14 Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #25 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #25 Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #33 Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
- #39 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #44 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
- #49 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #49 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Alvernia University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Alvernia University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Alvernia University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,170. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1170
- SAT Range
- 1093–1286
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,028
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
- Applicants
- 5,703
- Admitted
- 3,365
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Alvernia University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Alvernia University is $45,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $28,138. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,436 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $45,000
- Out-of-State
- $45,000
- Avg Net Price
- $28,138
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 83%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,436
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,701
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,131
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,152
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Alvernia University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Alvernia University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Alvernia University earn a median of $55,055, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,938
- 8 Years
- $53,927
- 10 Years
- $55,055
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.49x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (168)
- 45%
- 100% (168)
- 45%
- 100% (168)
- 45%
- 100% (168)
- 45%
How Alvernia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Alvernia University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Alvernia University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,138/year ($112,552 total). Graduates earn $55,055 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,229,572 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,117,020 (10.9× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $112,552
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,229,572
- Net Return
- $1,117,020
- ROI Multiple
- 10.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $28,138
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Alvernia University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Alvernia University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.19%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.19%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $114,534
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $9,791,348
- Investment Income
- $-3,384,278
Top Programs
The fields Alvernia University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 54% $76,701 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $54,063 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Criminal Justice 4% $47,328 early-career
- Communications 4% $45,495 early-career
- Psychology 4% $37,952 early-career
- Engineering 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Alvernia University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Alvernia University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Alvernia University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,170. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Alvernia University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Alvernia University is $45,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $28,138. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,436 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Alvernia University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Alvernia University earn a median of $55,055, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Alvernia University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Alvernia University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.19%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Alvernia University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Alvernia University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Alvernia University.
- Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL · Close peer70% grad $55,294 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Union UniversityJackson, TN · Close peer68% grad $53,990 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Northwood UniversityMidland, MI · Close peer62% grad $63,075 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Caldwell UniversityCaldwell, NJ · Close peer58% grad $53,843 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH · Close peer60% grad $55,624 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NY · Close peer68% grad $55,763 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Alvernia University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Alvernia University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note