Alvernia University

Reading, PA

Yes, connect me!

Alvernia University

Reading, PA

Yes, connect me!

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Undergrad Science & Engineering Catholic

Science & Engineering Profile

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Lead the pack

Alvernia University is a private liberal arts university guided by Franciscan values that serves more than 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from all over the country. Its main campus operates on 191 acres in Berks County—three miles from the heart of historic Reading, Pennsylvania—and is an easy car ride from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.

Alvernia offers a unique blend of a rigorous liberal arts core education for development of the mind, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, experiential learning through study abroad and internship experiences, and engagement with the community through our Franciscan-based community service model. We call our model of transformational education the Alvernia Advantage, and we believe this style of education transforms students into ethical leaders with moral courage. The Alvernia Advantage results in a superior track record of career placements and quality graduate school opportunities, with 95% of our students either employed or enrolled in a graduate program within six months of graduation.

Alvernia offers three Engineering majors: Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical. All have specific core requirements with options of engineering electives to round out a student’s interests. Combined with a strong liberal arts foundation, an Alvernia degree prepares the next generation of graduates with an ethically and morally centered focus for success. With projected growth of 4%–8% over the next eight years, a career in engineering is a sound choice with great salary potential.

Alvernia offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and minors, including five-year master's degrees in Athletic Training and Occupational Therapy; advanced master’s degrees in Business, Counseling, Education, Leadership, Nursing, and Social Work; and doctoral degrees in Leadership, Nursing, and Physical Therapy.

Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among the 2020 “Best Regional Universities in the North” by U.S. News & World Report out of more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the Northeast United States. Alvernia is also recognized as a 2020–2021 College of Distinction.

ACCOLADES

 

Recognized as a 2020–2021 College of Distinction, with specific badges in Catholic, Business, Education, Nursing, Career Development, Military Support, and Equity & Inclusion
 

Ranked in the top 100 among “Best Regional Universities in the North” | U.S News & World Report, 2020

The Reading CollegeTowne Initiative

Alvernia University’s new Reading CollegeTowne initiative, along with the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, plays a pivotal role in educating students to participate in a global economy. CollegeTowne is a strategic enabler that redefines Alvernia’s academic programs and expand its deep roots in the community, while the O’Pake Institute serves as a catalyst for educational and business expansion. A student-centered business incubator in downtown Reading will provide experiential learning opportunities for all disciplines. This initiative allows students to create, collaborate, and lead while they provide hands-on support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community.

An Inside Look

What students are saying about us...

  • “The Engineering programs will provide students with a hands-on experience that allows them to be application ready. The program is going to focus on teaching the fundamentals, based on our industry partners and their ability to dynamically apply those fundamental skills.”

    • Dr. Rodney Ridley
      Associate Provost and Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for the O’Pake Institute

  • “Dr. Ridley wants to make his students fundamentally sound before he starts teaching them the basics of engineering. This made a lot of sense to me. Not only am I getting an excellent education here, but I am going to be helping the building of a new and exciting program.”

    • Brian Czaus
      Alvernia Class of ‘24

  • "Alvernia's Engineering programs are a four-year design sequence, culminating in a year-long design project sponsored by local businesses. Students work in groups with other Engineering majors on real-world design projects with Berks County engineering firms."

    • Matthew Prudente, PhD
      Assistant Professor of Mathematics