Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

After earning your Bachelor of Arts in Literature, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• English teacher
• Creative writer
• Technical writer
• Editor
• Reporter
• Correspondent
• Columnist
• Copywriter
• Commentator
• Critic
• Production assistant
• Public relations representative

Literature majors also go on to pursue graduate and professional degrees in fields ranging from law and business to journalism and library science.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for those with a Literature degree are expected to grow by up to 12 percent between 2021 and 2031, much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual salary is $51,000.

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to internships:

• Alvernia students can earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area.
• Alvernia's college newspaper, the Alvernian, provides an open forum for ideas and opinions through editorials, letters-to-the-editor, news stories, features, interviews and reviews and gives Alvernia students the opportunity to gain practical journalistic experience.
• The Zephyrus, a literary magazine published every other spring, contains original creative work by Alvernia students, staff and faculty.
• The Alvernia Writer’s Series provides an open forum for the live presentation of original creative works.

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Alvernia Theatre Club

The Theater Club provides Alvernia University with a drama program; the area with a source of entertainment; the students with an activity and somewhere to express themselves; and as another way for the University to give back to the community. All of the members of the Alvernia University community are invited to participate.

Sigma Tau Delta, Kappa Pi Chapter

Sigma Tau Delta is the international English Honor Society. Members present papers and panels at national conventions and have won
thousands of dollars in scholarships and awards. With book drives, t-shirt competitions, bake sales, writing contests, trips to poetry
readings, participation in national and regional conferences, and other activities, the Kappa Pi Chapter offers students opportunities for fun and recognition for academic excellence.

The Washington Center Experience

Alvernia students have an opportunity to earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. They also may intern with one of several non-profit groups dealing with the environment, women’s issues, the arts, education, science, or labor relations among others. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area. In addition to their internship, students select one seminar dealing with the arts and humanities, communication, public policy, the legal system, business, and government. Interested students should see their academic advisor.

The Alvernian

Alvernia's college newspaper provides information and entertainment to the community, covering issues on campus and in the local communities. The Alvernian provides an open forum for ideas and opinions through editorials, letters-to-the-editor, news stories, features, interviews and reviews and gives Alvernia students the opportunity to gain practical journalistic experience. Contact Dr. Ryan Lange for information at ryan.lange@alvernia.edu or 610-568-1557.

The Zephyrus

The Zephyrus is the literary magazine published every other spring. It contains original creative work — poetry, fiction, essays, photography, artwork — by Alvernia students, staff and faculty. Department faculty serve as advisors and members of Sigma Tau Delta act as editors.

The Alvernia Writer’s Series

An open forum for the live presentation of original creative works.