On Thursday, Aug. 24, Monarch butterflies in Albright’s Community Garden Monarch Waystation will begin to break free from their cocoons and take flight. Serendipitously, a new class of Albright College students will also begin their journey on that day. A full slate of Welcome Weekend events follows Albright College Move-In Day, slated for Thursday, Aug. 24.
Albright’s incoming class of 441 first year and transfer students is academically minded, taking an average of seven honors courses during high school. Thirty-six graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes and 68 are eligible for Albright’s prestigious Honors program. The class boasts six Eagle Scouts and four Girl Scout Gold Award winners.
Although their top declared majors are business, biology, psychology and education, the college’s Alpha program (designed to help students find their best fit) is also very popular among class of 2027 members. And a whopping 70% of new Albrightians plan to take advantage of the college’s distinctive co-major program, which enables students to cross or combine different programs, without taking longer to graduate.
This year’s new Albrightians come from around the country and the globe, joining the Reading, Pa., community from both coasts, 18 different states and 14 countries — including Croatia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong-SAR, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Skorea, Sweden, Vietnam. Fifty-four percent are students of color.
More than 50% of the Albright class of 2027 will be the first in their families to attend college. More than a third will compete as varsity Division III athletes.
Eighteen are Albright Shirk Scholars, two have earned full Davis Scholarships and another 18 join Albright as members of the second Global Scholars cohort — living together throughout their first year, while taking a series of courses together in the fall and spring semesters.
The Monarch Waystation, created this summer by Albright student intern Jenna Crosby ’25, is located at the Albright College Community Garden, on Linden Street.
