Albright College
Albright College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Albright College at a Glance
Albright College is a private liberal arts college in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1856 and had an enrollment of 1,652 students as of fall 2023.
1856
170 years old
1,652
1,328 undergrad · 324 grad
114
118 acres
Identity
Is Albright College Worth It?
At a value score of 34/100, Albright College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $58,700 — 9% above average — while paying $20,024/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 47% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Albright College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Albright College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #108 of 213 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Baptist Health Sciences University | 75 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| #2 | Andrews University | 73 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| #3 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #4 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #5 | Canisius University | 58 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| #6 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #108 | Albright College | 34 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Albright College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 18 in PA.
Best Programs at Albright College
The highest-earning program at Albright College is Accounting and Related Services at $46,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $20,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Albright College earns $46,400, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $20,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,024/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,400 | $46,400 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $45,600 | $45,600 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,600 | $40,600 | $26,500 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $35,900 | $35,900 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,100 | $34,100 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $33,500 | $33,500 | $26,000 |
| Criminology | $33,500 | $33,500 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $32,800 | $32,800 | $26,000 |
| Sociology | $29,300 | $29,300 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,200 | $20,200 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in PA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Reading, PA
- Student Body
- 1,217 students
- Admission Rate
- 76%
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,024
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $58,700
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000