Albright College

Albright College is a private liberal arts college located in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was founded in 1856, so it has a long history. As of fall 2023, the college had around 1,652 students. It offers many programs and courses for people who want to study and learn. The college is known for teaching a well-rounded education through the liberal arts. It encourages students to explore many subjects and develop critical thinking skills.

History

Albright College began in 1856 as "Union Seminary." It grew by joining with other schools, like Albright Collegiate Institute and Schuylkill College. The college is now located at the base of Mount Penn in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The school is named after Jacob Albright, a preacher who started a church group called the Evangelical Association. The number of students at Albright has decreased in recent years, making it harder for the college to manage its money. The school has had to make some difficult decisions to handle its finances.

Academics

Albright College helps students study different subjects so they can finish on time. The college offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, plus Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in education. There are also online and faster degree options.

Albright has many programs, both classic and career-focused. It started one of the first undergraduate psychobiology programs in the 1960s. The college’s liberal arts courses let students create their own education, often studying two or three subjects together.

The theatre program has won many awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Albright’s Domino Players Company has performed at the Region II KCACTF Festival many times. The college’s shows have been named the best of their years, winning national awards.

The Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE) lets undergraduate students do research or creative projects during special breaks. Students work closely with teachers on projects in many subjects, from science to the humanities.

Rankings

In 2017, Albright College was named one of the “Best Northeastern” schools by The Princeton Review for the fourteenth year. For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked the college tied at #146 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. In 2018, U.S. News ranked Albright for campus diversity and for helping students from different economic backgrounds. The Economist magazine listed Albright among the top 50 American colleges for good value in 2015.

Athletics

Albright College's sports teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III as part of the Middle Atlantic Conferences.

Charles "Pop" Kelchner started the men's basketball team in 1900. He worked as the athletic director for 21 years. He was also involved in Major League Baseball. The college named its baseball field Kelchner Field in 1952.

Several well-known coaches have led Albright's football team, including Doggie Julian, Biggie Munn, and William "Lone Star" Dietz. In 1948, Albright played in an important football game.

The Philadelphia Eagles held their training camps at Albright from 1968 to 1972.

Wilbur G. Renken served as athletic director and basketball coach for 38 seasons. He was president of the United States Olympic Basketball Team Selection Committee for the 1976 Olympic Games. He also led the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

WXAC

Albright College has a campus radio station called WXAC 91.3 FM. It is run by students. The station was first called WALC, but its name was changed to WXAC on March 8, 1965.

Notable alumni

Albright College has many successful graduates in different fields. Some famous alumni include Haps Benfer, who coached football, basketball, and baseball, and John Fetterman, who is now a United States Senator. Others like Doris Freedman helped develop public art, and Casey Lawrence plays baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball. Many alumni are leaders in politics, education, and other important areas.