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Flexibility is paramount to an Alfred University education and the school wants its Saxons to avail themselves of the "variety of academic opportunities" it offers in order to create a truly individual curriculum. While known for its "excellent art program"-especially ceramics and glass-students confirm that it's "easy to take subjects outside your major," and they value the number of "other majors versus a traditional art [school] setting" that are available. As one art student attests, "If I had decided to change majors, Alfred has almost every opportunity."

With fewer than 2,000 undergraduates on its sprawling upstate campus, students find "the classroom size is perfect for a more personalized education." As one student says, "It is the closest to one-on-one teaching you can get." Students also have access to hands-on facilities such as outdoor kilns and wind tunnels, as well as built-in funding for real-world experiences via the Alfred University Applied and Experiential Learning Program (APEX). For those who do conduct their own research or experiments, professors are "always willing to put time into student independent projects." Classes at Alfred are headed by "outstanding, talented, dedicated" professors who "are always pushing you to reach your full potential" and they "bring a level of vibrancy and academic encouragement through enthusiasm to the classroom."

Alfred's students freely mix and move between the traditional major-related groups to become "well-acquainted with people from a variety of studies and backgrounds and with a variety of interests." All first-year and transfer students participate in Alfred's Common Ground program, taking part in small group discussions to learn about different backgrounds and assumptions they might have. While some say there is "a pretty significant gap between the prevalent, spunky art students and the more reclusive engineers," most easily socialize across academic lines and "more often than not, you'll see engineers rubbing elbows with philosophy majors and artists chilling with math and chemistry majors." The art program draws a large creative component to campus, and while "everyone finds their own little niche" in this "warm" environment, it "definitely does not mean they stay there-you are allowed to float between everything." Saxons are, as a whole, "friendly, outgoing, and involved," and "you can't go down the street without receiving a smile."

Alfred is the second-oldest coed institution in the country, and the school has a long history of often quirky traditions, such as the Pine Hill Derby (soap box racing) and Hot Dog Day (just what it sounds like). School spirit is strong, with students donning purple and gold for Saxon Fridays, and "every sports team is supported, and superfans are at every event." Part of the reason for this strong "sense of community" is the school's "somewhat rural location" in the southern tier of New York, where the "beautiful" campus hums with activities. Students say "there are so many clubs and options that you can find something to do" regardless of the day of week. This includes the "strong equestrian program," as well as "student club productions...and fundraisers and an excellent selection of movies shown on campus." As far as infrastructure goes, "the facilities are amazing," particularly those for art and engineering. That's a good thing, because it means that although "it snows constantly" in this bucolic location, students can carry on with their activities.