Glass and ceramics are what set Alfred University apart. It hosts the New York State College of Ceramics, which includes a materials engineering school known for glass science and an art school with a highly regarded ceramic art MFA. The rest of the university is a small private liberal arts college. Steinheim Castle, a 19th-century stone building, sits on campus.
Alfred, New York, United States
Official website: alfred.edu
1836
Private university with a statutory state college
New York State College of Ceramics
$36,000 – $42,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate programmes
$13,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on alfred.edu before you apply.
BS Materials Science and Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Glass Engineering Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BFA Art and Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
MFA Ceramic Art
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
Portfolio; TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
One of the few glass engineering degrees in the US.
A leading MFA in ceramic art.
A tiny village campus with its own castle.
Materials and glass graduates join companies such as Corning, a short drive away.
Ceramic artists exhibit, teach and set up studios internationally.
STEM graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Limited programmes
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Alfred's main street divides Alfred University from Alfred State. Kanakadea Creek runs along the edge of campus.
It's rural and snowy in winter. Corning, with its Museum of Glass, is about an hour east; Rochester is about 90 minutes north.
Form I-20 issued by Alfred University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Alfred University reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis after early action. The MFA in Ceramic Art has its own earlier deadline, so check the programme page.
Most programmes start in August. Some undergraduate programmes also admit in January.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Alfred University after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Materials science and engineering, glass engineering, art and design, the ceramic art MFA and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need a secondary school diploma and TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.0; MFA applicants submit a portfolio.
Alfred gives merit scholarships to most international undergraduates. Graduate students can ask about assistantships.
