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ReadingPennsylvaniaSkylinePhoto: BigCheddah · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Reading

Reading is home to three colleges, with 7,069 students on campus

Reading Area Community College (3,588 students on campus) and Alvernia University (2,166) are inside the city, and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks (1,934) is 2.8 miles from the center, in Spring Township. About 6% of Reading’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania (6%).

Reading Area Community CollegeAlbright CollegeAlvernia UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Reading. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
16,267 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Reading Area
Residents in college
6%
About the same as PA (6%)
Nearest community college
0.6 mi
Reading Area · $6,480 tuition
Nearest public university
2.8 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks · $15,972 in-state
Median household income
$44K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Reading

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 2.8 milesAlbright College admits 76% of applicants; Alvernia University admits 58%; Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks admits 99%. Together they have 9,003 students on campus.A community college 0.6 miles awayReading Area Community College in Reading: tuition and fees $6,480 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks charges $15,972 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $26,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Reading

Three private colleges within 2.8 miles, two public colleges within 14.2 miles, and Reading Area Community College 0.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miKutztown University of PennsylvaniaReading AreaAlvernia UniversityReading
University or collegeCommunity college
Reading Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,588 on campus · In Reading$9knet price34%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $6,480 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Albright CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,315 on campus · In Reading76%admitted$20knet price51%graduate$59kearningsAlvernia UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,166 on campus · In Reading58%admitted$28knet price56%graduate$55kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksUniversity or college · Public · 1,934 on campus · 2.8 mi · Reading99%admitted$24knet price32%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 452 on campus · 2.8 mi · Wyomissing$20knet price76%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 6,812 on campus · 14.2 mi · Kutztown91%admitted$21knet price54%graduate$54kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Reading’s median household income ($44,091) falls.

Reading Area Community CollegeIn Reading · sticker $14,563 · tuition $6,480$8,553a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks2.8 mi · Reading · sticker $32,242$15,862a year
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania14.2 mi · Kutztown · sticker $29,866$16,386a year
Albright CollegeIn Reading · sticker $43,711$16,892a year
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute2.8 mi · Wyomissing · sticker $26,793$18,622a year
Alvernia UniversityIn Reading · sticker $57,565$23,701a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Reading: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Reading AreaAlbright CollegeAlvernia UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksMiller-Motte College-Berks Technical InstituteKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania54% graduate$54k earnings$26k typical debt
Reading Area Community College34% graduate$39k earnings$9k typical debt
Alvernia University56% graduate$55k earnings$27k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks32% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Albright College51% graduate$59k earnings$27k typical debt
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute76% graduate$31k earnings*$16k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks (22); Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute (22).

Majors

What students study in Reading

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Reading’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 28%Business 20%Psychology 7%Liberal arts 6%Family sciences 6%Computer science 4%Everything else 29%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesReading Area Community College · 77 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsReading Area Community College · 74 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAlvernia University · 59 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralAlvernia University · 49 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAlbright College · 47 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAlvernia University · 33 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAlvernia University · 31 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralAlbright College · 24 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Reading

Is Reading a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Reading residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Reading Area Community College, has 3,588 students on campus.

What colleges are in Reading?

Reading Area Community College, Alvernia University and Albright College are inside the city. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is 2.8 miles from the center, in Spring Township.

What is the closest community college to Reading, and what does it cost?

Reading Area Community College in Reading, 0.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,480 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $9,228, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $15,972 a year in-state and $26,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,429 (under $30,000 income) to $29,541 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Reading. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →