More selective than 84% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $57,565. College Scorecard.
Higher than 38% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover and 53% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 31% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover and 56% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
Alvernia University acceptance rate & admissions
Of 5,491 applicants, Alvernia University admitted 3,422 and 414 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1093–1286 on the SAT.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
Alvernia University tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for students who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
State aid: Pennsylvania residents with financial need may receive a PA State Grant: up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 at approved colleges, depending on need and the college. Not included in the prices above. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), PA State Grant
What Alvernia University costs to finish, and how fast it pays back
Graduates of Alvernia University took 4.3 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Pennsylvania. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,436 | $101,478 | 5.3 years |
| $30–48k | $23,701 | $102,625 | 5.3 years |
| $48–75k | $24,131 | $104,487 | 5.4 years |
| $75–110k | $28,016 | $121,309 | 6.3 years |
| $110k+ | $32,152 | $139,218 | 7.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($55,055) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,258 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.
Alvernia University majors, earnings & careers
Alvernia University offers 40 bachelor's majors across 10 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Health & Medicine · 7
- Science & Math · 7
- Business & Finance · 6
- Humanities & Languages · 5
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 5
- Education · 3
- Engineering · 3
- Communications & Media · 2
- Arts & Design · 1
- Technology & Computing · 1
Highest-earning majors at Alvernia University
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $94,679 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration | $75,705 | $27,000 |
| Accounting | $67,562 | $25,500 |
| Criminal Justice | $58,810 | $30,250 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $58,231 | $27,000 |
| Social Work | $56,243 | $41,574 |
| Health Sciences | $56,203 | $27,000 |
| Psychology | $52,044 | — |
Quick list of all 40 majors
- Accounting$67,562
- Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech)—
- Biochemistry—
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other—
- Biological and Physical Sciences—
- Biology—
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
- Business Administration$75,705
- Business Economics—
- Chemistry—
- Communications—
- Computer and Information Sciences—
- Criminal Justice$58,810
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)—
- Education (Subject Teaching)—
- Electrical Engineering—
- English—
- Environmental Science / Conservation—
- Finance—
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other—
- Health Sciences$56,203
- History—
- Human Resources—
- Industrial Engineering—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$58,231
- Liberal Arts / General Studies—
- Marketing—
- Mathematics—
- Mechanical Engineering—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$48,809
- Nursing$94,679
- Philosophy—
- Political Science—
- Psychology$52,044
- Public Health—
- Religious Studies—
- Security / Homeland Security—
- Social Work$56,243
- Special Education—
- Theatre—
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Nursing → Registered nurse
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Criminal Justice → Police officer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Reading
Overall prices in the Reading, PA area.
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
2 bedrooms $1,418. Housing costs 15% below the U.S. average.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 49 inches of rain a year, 27 inches of snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: tornado (relatively high); river flooding (relatively high); winter weather (very high).
FEMA National Risk Index, Berks County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Berks County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare Alvernia University with similar schools
Similar private colleges in Pennsylvania by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvernia University | 58% | $28,138 | 56% | $55,055 | This school |
| Geneva College | — | $25,890 | 61% | $50,004 | |
| Moore College of Art and Design | 56% | $43,086 | 57% | $37,839 | |
| Lancaster Bible College | 56% | $25,480 | 67% | $44,096 | |
| Chatham University | 62% | $29,954 | 63% | $52,410 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Alvernia University would cost you $2,248 more per year than Geneva College, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Alvernia University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$11,550).
- Alvernia University gives aided families $9,910 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Pennsylvania resident | Alvernia University | Geneva College | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $45,000 | $33,450 | +$11,550 |
| Books & supplies | $1,500 | $1,100 | +$400 |
| Housing & meals | $15,090 | $10,980 | +$4,110 |
| Personal & travel | $2,500 | $1,700 | +$800 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$6,525 | −$1,823 | −$4,702 |
| Sticker price | $57,565 | $45,407 | +$12,158 |
| Average grants | −$29,427 | −$19,517 | −$9,910 |
| You pay | $28,138 | $25,890 | +$2,248 |
“+” means Alvernia University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about Alvernia University
What is the Alvernia University acceptance rate?
Alvernia University accepts 58% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 3,422 of 5,491 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1093–1286 on the SAT.
How much does Alvernia University cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $57,565 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $28,138 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $23,436 and families earning $110k+ pay $32,152.
How much do Alvernia University graduates earn?
Former Alvernia University students earn a median $55,055 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the Alvernia University graduation rate?
56% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year.
How long does a Alvernia University degree take to pay off?
For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at Alvernia University costs about $104,487 after grants ($24,131 a year for 4.3 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $55,055 ten years after starting, $19,258 more than high school graduates in Pennsylvania ($35,797), so the cost is repaid in 5.4 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Alvernia University: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/alvernia-university (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).