Alfred University
Alfred, NY
Alfred, NY
Explore the possibilities
Lighting the way for students since 1836
We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor, and community have made us a unique kind of leader since 1836.
The Alfred Advantage
At Alfred University, you won’t spend all your time behind a desk. Our curriculum is designed around experiential learning, which means you'll have as much hands-on learning as possible.
Depending on your major, you’ll find opportunities to be in the field, the studio, the lab, the classroom, or engaging in simulated scenarios that give you a competitive edge when you enter the workforce or head to grad school. You’ll learn the concepts and then actively apply them through projects, field trips, site visits, internships, and interactions with professionals in the field.
Caring community
Our faculty and staff are respected not only for their knowledge and skills, but also because they care about you as an individual. They serve as true mentors, offering personalized attention through small class sizes, a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, and by working closely with you as advisors. They take the time to welcome you to the AU community, watch you grow as a leader and scholar, and help you connect with alumni and other experts.
Global experience
The world really is a small place, and at Alfred University we value diversity. Our students bring rich experiences that span continents, countries, and states. We value diversity because it not only helps you better understand the world, it helps you understand yourself and how you fit in the global society. Get involved in the many multicultural and international programs on campus, and you’ll see how easy it is to make friends from across the world.
The Alfred University Magic
• 95% receiving financial aid: Nearly our entire student body receives some form of financial aid—mostly grants and scholarships.
• 98% success rate: Within one year of graduation, 98% of our students land jobs or are enrolled in graduate school.
• 13:1 student-faculty ratio: Small class sizes mean individual attention—and more opportunities for growth.
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Ranked among the "Colleges with the Best Academics in America" and "Best Colleges for Art in America" | Niche, 2023 |
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Ranked among the top colleges and universities for earning national recognition | Washington Monthly, 2022 |
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AU scored on par with or better than many top schools for "value added" among 4,000 schools nationwide | Brookings, 2024 |
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Ranked among the "Top Regional Universities in the North," "Top Performers on Social Mobility," and "Best Value Schools" | U.S. News & World Report, 2024 |
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Recognized among The Best 389 Colleges | The Princeton Review, 2024 |
In his “Department of Data” column for The Washington Post, Andrew Van Dam lists the “collegiest” towns in America, along with other data. The “collegiest” town in the country is Alfred, NY, “where students make up an astonishing 85% of the town’s population of 4,500 (depending, obviously, on huge seasonal fluctuations).”
Alfred University sits on a beautifully unique campus that houses everything from an equestrian center to an actual castle. Nearly 400 acres of recreational land between the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains and the Finger Lakes. Neighboring cities with exceptional career and internship opportunities. And the quaint, historic Village of Alfred. As a Saxon, every day here can be as comforting or as outside-of-ordinary as you wish.
Founded: 1836, with inclusion from the start! One of the first coeducational institutions in the United States
Type of institution: Private, non-sectarian, with state-sponsored programs in engineering and art and design.
Location: Alfred, New York, a village in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains about an hour west of Corning, an hour and a half south of Rochester and two hours from Buffalo.
Students: About 1,600 undergraduates and nearly 150 graduate students from 43 states and 16 countries attend full-time on the Alfred campus. We have approximately 90 additional part-time graduate students on the Alfred, NY campus, and 475 graduate students enrolled in our AUNY NYC-metro area programs.
Admissions: Admission is selective. In general, admitted undergraduate students have an A, B+ or B high school average and the middle 50% have SAT scores between 910 and 1140. Admitted graduate students should have a 3.0 GPA or better.
Graduates: Surveys of AU graduates consistently reveal that one year after graduation 98% of our students land jobs or are in graduate school.
Clubs and organizations: More than 80 recognized clubs and organizations.
Athletics: AU Saxons compete on 22 varsity teams including 17 NCAA Division III sports, one USCSA (United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association) sport, one NCA (National Cheerleading Association) and two IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) sports. Roughly 30% of all undergraduates play a varsity sport, and approximately half of all AU students participate in either intramural or club sports.
