Alvernia University was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the university serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country and the world.

Alvernia offers a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts core education for developing 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.

Alvernia offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and minors that are uniquely combined with a strong liberal arts foundation to develop critical thinking, communication, and an understanding of human behavior.

Master's degrees are awarded in business administration, clinical counseling, education, leadership, nursing, occupational therapy, and social work. Alvernia offers a seven-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership program.

Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. We're recognized as a College of Distinction for our commitment to engaged, experiential education.

Alvernia’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Alvernia University is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the University's success and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. To find out more about our DEI policies, click here: https://www.alvernia.edu/office-justice-equity-and-inclusion/inclusive-excellence