Admission FAQs

At Albright, our cross-disciplinary learning is one of the many things that make us unique. We encourage our students to combine majors that suit their interests and their goals. So go ahead – personalize your major and graduate on time.
Our diversity also makes Albright special. Half of Albright’s student body consists of students of color or students from abroad. That diversity serves us well: More than 60% of recent alumni say their Albright experience prepared them to understand and appreciate other cultures.

Hailing from two dozen states and nearly 20 countries, our students bring countless experiences and personalities to campus. Here they are by the numbers:

• The average Albright student took six honors classes in high school
• More than 60% graduate with combined majors
• 65% stay on campus for a January Interim term course
• More than 30% are student-athletes

In general, Albright students are down-to-earth, approachable, and personable. Drop by the campus for a tour and see for yourself the mix of smarts, smiles, and selflessness that make up the typical Albrightian.

Every dream of getting tossed in a pond? Then Albright is the place for you. Each year on your birthday, your friends will carry you to Sylvan Pond and throw you in! “Ponding,” as it is known, is practically a rite of passage at Albright. Oozeball, the campus-sponsored mud volleyball tournament held each spring, is another favorite. Each November, the International Students’ Association takes over the Dining Hall for an evening of global cuisine. When you’re studying for finals, we’ll have late-night breakfast, served by President Fetrow and the college’s vice presidents, to fuel your reading.

Albright is an active, fully residential college with a wide variety of activities going on every weekend. The Albright College Activities Council (AC2) plans events each semester, including dance parties, sports nights, Xbox competitions, and even road trips to New York. Athletics are in full swing on the weekend’s thanks to our 24 NCAA Division III teams. Our organizations and performance groups always have something interesting in store. If you’re interested in Greek life, you’ll be glad to know that there are three national fraternities and three national sororities you can join. There are also numerous volunteer clubs and opportunities to engage in service on campus and in the greater Reading community.

Analytical thinking, communications skills, the ability to reason, a lifelong love of learning. These are the very things employers say they want to see more of in the people they hire. This is exactly what a liberal arts education gives you. What can you do with a liberal arts degree? Anything you want!

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, Albright College has an average class size of 15 students. Some intro courses are as large as 30 while upper-level classes may have as few as eight or ten.

You bet! Hands-on learning is a hallmark of the Albright educational experience. Internships are highly encouraged and often required as a component of study. Some will earn you academic credit.
You can intern during the academic year, over the summer, or during the January Interim. You’re welcome to pursue local internships in Berks County as well as opportunities closer to home.
If research is your thing, we have you covered. There are ample opportunities to assist faculty members with their research. In addition, the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE) pairs you with a faculty member on a research or creative project carried out during the summer session or January Interim. If accepted, you’ll receive a stipend and free room and board during the session.
You’ll also present your project on campus and may even go on to present at a regional or national professional conference.
Contact the Experiential Learning and Career Development Center for more information. ELCDC staff is on hand to help you with everything from the job and internship search to resume writing and interview skills.

As a campus resident, you’ll have plenty of living options to choose from. The quad is made up of four co-ed residence halls – three housing only freshmen and one for all undergraduates. Upperclassmen can choose from North Hall, Mohn Hall, student-led affinity houses, or gender-inclusive suites at Rockland Hall.
All of our residence halls are co-ed, but there are single-sex floor options as well. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with a microwave/refrigerator combo as well as Wi-Fi access. There are laundry facilities in every dorm that can be used at no cost to the student.
Each dorm has a resident assistant who is responsible for overseeing all aspects of dorm life. These RAs are students who plan various programs for those living in the dorm. Programs include study skills workshops, free pizza nights, movies, video-game tournaments, and much more. Learn more about our residential life.

We’re biased, of course, but we think it’s amazing! With the overhaul and renovation of the dining hall, it’s even better than ever. Options include a rotisserie oven, brick oven pizza, Mongolian grill, vegetarian/vegan station, nature bar, bakery, deli, and more.
We’re responsive to students’ needs and wants and often run special meals and theme events throughout the year to showcase new options and share a wide variety of cuisines.
Other dining options on campus include Jake’s place, which was renovated in 2021 and offers four restaurants with a wide variety of student favorites, healthy choices, and grab and go options; Jake’s Java, which serves Joffrey’s coffee and pastries; Peg’s Café, which is located in the Schumo Center and focuses on healthier options; and Rockland Market. Learn more about our dining services.

Located at the base of Mount Penn and nestled snugly in the residential College Heights neighborhood, where approximately half of our faculty and staff live, Albright is in a very safe area of Reading. Our Public Safety office is located across from the residence halls and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Here’s what we’re doing to keep you safe:

• Campus security officers patrol the campus throughout the day and night.
• The Reading Police Department supplements campus security.
• An escort across campus is just a phone call away.
• Numerous emergency phones are placed around campus for direct access to security.
• Access to residence halls is granted through an ID swipe system and is limited to the students who reside in that building.
• Albright College offers an emergency text messaging system. Students are encouraged to sign up so that in the case of any emergency, including weather events,
  they get a text right away.

All colleges and universities are required by law to publish standardized campus crime reports. View Albright’s reports.

Almost everything. Ranked a “Best Place to Live” by U.S. News & World Report, Reading has all the charms of a small town with a festival and events calendar that’ll give you something to celebrate every season of the year. Stroll the streets of downtown and pop into local shops and restaurants. Or find a cool art project to take on at Goggleworks, an old factory building in the heart of Reading that has been restored as a dynamic and interactive arts center.

If the outdoors is more your vibe, there’s plenty of that to explore. Go up to the top of Mount Penn for scenic views, or down to Crystal Cave. The Greater Reading Trails System offers over 125 miles of biking and hiking trails so you can get away and get into nature.

We understand the need for college affordability better than many other institutions, which is why we took the bold step in 2019 to reset our tuition price by lowering it to $24,500. Since that time, we have remained committed to affordability and kept our tuition increases below the average for our peer group. Now, Albright College has a tuition price that is among the lowest for private colleges in Pennsylvania! Learn more about our right-sizing tuition.

Albright College offers a competitive financial aid policy that makes us a leader among similar private colleges in the region. This commitment empowers families to choose Albright based on academic and extracurricular opportunities.Learn more about our financial aid.

We thought you’d never ask! Click here to apply online.