Alfred University

Alfred University's published cost of attendance is $57,445. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,512, middle-income families pay around $22,125, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,388.

Azimuth ranks Alfred University #1043 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Alfred University's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though families should review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how published cost differs from what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,269; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,242, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Alfred University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,242, placing Alfred University in the 33.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,078 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Alfred University in the 26.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Alfred University #1170 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Alfred University's engineering-focused curriculum.

Fine and Studio Arts is the largest program with 69 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,877, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 58 students with median 4-year earnings of $79,452, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $47,445 for 34 graduates.

Business Administration and Teacher Education round out the top five, with median 4-year earnings of $61,629 and $49,612 respectively. The concentration in Engineering — which represents the institution's primary academic focus — helps explain Alfred University's above-average earnings trajectory and strong positioning for long-term financial outcomes.

Alfred University's program mix is anchored in engineering and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a specialized private university. Fine and Studio Arts is the largest program with 69 graduates, followed by Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, General, Business Administration, and Teacher Education.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 375 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's engineering-focused portfolio. The earnings pattern reflects Alfred University's concentration in applied and technical fields.

Ceramic Sciences and Engineering leads with median earnings of $83,641 four years after enrollment from 15 graduates, followed by Mechanical Engineering with $79,452 from 58 graduates and Engineering, Other with $71,845 from 13 graduates. Business Administration and Criminal Justice round out the highest-earning programs with $61,629 and $57,570 respectively.

These outcomes cluster in fields where employers recruit actively and demand remains strong for applied technical skills. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.

Alfred University's positioning as a specialized engineering and applied-professional institution creates concentrated network strength in technical industries and manufacturing sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national labor-market trends and wage growth trajectories.