Alfred University is a private institution originally founded in Allegany County, New York, in 1936. Named in honour of the Viking King Alfred the Great, Alfred University exists today as a small private university in the village of Alfred, south of the cities of Rochester and Buffalo and close to the border with Pennsylvania.

The main campus houses the bulk of the university’s accommodation, as well as a number of recreational areas. These comprise of things such as athletics facilities, for which the university has since become well-known across New York State, supporting sports such as American football, swimming, soccer and tennis, as well as track and field events. 

Aside from this, the campus is within driving distance of several major cities within the state, whilst still being in a more secluded and quiet area itself.

In terms of academic offerings, the university has roughly 40 different degree courses available for enrollment, with a slightly higher number of minors. The university offers a diverse range of courses, but is perhaps best known for its School of Art and Design (particularly in ceramics) and School of Engineering. Both of these schools are semi-autonomous from the university proper, and each has their own Dean.

In addition to these undergraduate offerings, the university also has postgraduate options available at both Masters and Doctoral level, including engineering, fine art, and business administration.

Famous alumni of Alfred University include the comedian Robert Klein, Congressman Tom Reed, and the sculptor Kenneth Price.