Alverno College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It enrolls 631 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value36
Affordability58
Selectivity32
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85.7%, Alverno College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alverno College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
23.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Alverno College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,540 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,540
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,086
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,688
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,154
Books & Supplies
$1,680
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,948
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,948
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,362
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,032
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,668
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,261
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,788
Over $110,000
$29,051
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$10,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$36,00075%percentile
$47,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $25,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $12,000
Dependent students $19,649
↓ $7,351
Independent students $24,500
↓ $2,500
Female students $22,313
↓ $4,687
Male students $10,000
↓ $17,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Alverno College graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alverno College earn a median of $53,145 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,145
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Alverno College is home to 631 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
631
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 41.7%263
White 26.9%170
Black 19.3%122
Other 5.4%34
Asian 5.1%32
International 0.5%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alverno College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Housing
Mostly residential264 beds on campus
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Women's college
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Alverno College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alverno College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$68M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$56,246
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
85 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
28
33%
$59,074
Associate Professors
23
27%
$57,017
Assistant Professors
34
40%
$53,395
Pros & Cons of Alverno College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alverno College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Alverno College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alverno College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alverno College.
Is Alverno College hard to get into?
Alverno College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Alverno College?
Alverno College has an acceptance rate of 85.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Alverno College cost?
The average net price after aid at Alverno College is $22,540 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alverno College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,145 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,540 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alverno College known for?
Alverno College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Counseling Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alverno College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alverno College are $53,145, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Alverno College accredited?
Yes. Alverno College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Alverno College?
Alverno College enrolls 631 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alverno College?
Alverno College graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alverno College a public or private college?
Alverno College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Alverno College located?
Alverno College is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What programs does Alverno College offer?
Alverno College offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Counseling Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alverno College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alverno College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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