At $28,329/yr net price, Alvernia University graduates earn $55,055/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $21,055/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $28,329 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $113,316 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,055/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$21,055/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 58.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,979/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,001/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,381/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,019/yr |
| $110,001+ | $30,036/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $64,553 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $63,600 | $65,711 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $60,878 | $37,677 |
| Education, General. | Master | $48,823 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $45,500 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $42,682 | $27,000 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Master | $42,682 | |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $39,832 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $38,289 |
The Risk Factor
58.5% of students at Alvernia University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Alvernia University gives you a mixed financial picture that leans heavily on one program. At roughly $28,000 a year in net price and $27,000 in median debt, the payoff depends almost entirely on what you study. Nursing is the clear winner here, and everything else trails behind.
If you graduate from Alvernia's nursing program, the math works. Nursing grads out-earn accounting grads by about $19,000 a year while carrying the same debt load, and Reading and the surrounding Berks County hospital systems give you a steady local market for those skills. That's the one degree here where the debt makes sense.
The business, marketing, and criminal justice paths are harder to justify. Marketing and business grads land in the low $40,000s, and criminal justice sits under $40,000, all while carrying close to $27,000 in debt. Borrowing full freight for a degree that pays under $43,000 is a slow climb, and none of these programs give you the earnings cushion nursing does.
The biggest risk is that only 58.5% of students graduate and 72.6% return after year one. If you borrow, start, and leave without the degree, you carry debt with no credential to pay it off. That risk hits hardest in the lower-paying majors.
The net price barely moves with income. A family earning under $30,000 pays about $28,000, nearly the same as a family earning six figures. There's no meaningful discount for lower-income families here, so if you're on a tight budget and not headed into nursing, the numbers don't favor you.
Alvernia is a solid financial fit if you're committed to nursing. If you're aiming at business, marketing, or criminal justice, price out cheaper options before you sign the loans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alvernia University worth the cost?
Alvernia's ROI depends heavily on your major. Nursing and rehabilitation programs lead to solid earnings around $63,000-$65,000, but education and accounting graduates earn significantly less at $45,500-$48,800 despite similar debt loads.
What is the job market like for Alvernia University graduates?
Average earnings of $55,055 ten years after graduation are below the national average for four-year colleges. The 58.5% graduation rate means over 40% of students don't finish their degree.
How much debt do Alvernia University students typically graduate with?
Median debt is $27,000, which is manageable for nursing graduates but creates challenges for education majors earning under $49,000. The net price of $28,329 per year adds up quickly for a school with moderate earning outcomes.
Which programs at Alvernia University have the best return on investment?
Nursing programs offer the strongest ROI with graduates earning around $64,553 annually. Business and rehabilitation programs also perform well, while education and accounting majors face lower earning potential relative to their debt.