READING, PA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / June 22, 2026 / Contact: 

Office of Marketing and Communications 

Albright College 

Email: media@albright.edu 

Phone: (610) 790-3378

Albright College launches Prior Learning Credit Program, giving working adults a faster path to a degree

READING, Pa. – June 9, 2026 – Albright College is pleased to announce the launch of a prior learning credit program for School of Professional Studies (SPS) students, allowing working adults to earn academic credit for professional experience and complete degrees faster and more affordably beginning in fall 2026.

For the millions of adults who started college but never finished, the cost of leaving without a degree is measurable and growing. Research from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that households headed by a bachelor’s degree holder now earn more than double the household income of those with only a high school diploma. Albright’s School of Professional Studies is designed for working adults who need flexibility without sacrificing academic rigor. The prior learning credit program expands an academic model that seeks to meet students where they are through accelerated formats, online coursework, and personalized advising.

Through this new prior learning credit option, Albright SPS students can submit relevant professional experience, industry training, certifications, or demonstrated knowledge for academic credit. Prior learning credit is distinct from transfer credit earned at another college or university and will be awarded through a formal evaluation process that assesses understanding and skills gained through practical experience.

This new option enables undergraduate students to fulfill up to 75% of their bachelor’s degree requirements through a combination of transfer credit and prior learning credit. Graduate students may apply up to 25% toward a master’s degree. Each prior learning assessment course costs $100. Students may begin the process upon enrollment to accelerate degree completion.

“Working adults bring real knowledge, real skills, and real stakes to their education,” President Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., said. “This program honors that. It recognizes what our students already know, accelerates their path to completion, and positions them for the career growth that a degree from Albright makes possible. We are proud to open this door wider, because the return on finishing is not just financial, it is transformational.”

Prospective students interested in the prior learning credit program can learn more and apply at albright.edu/sps or contact the School of Professional Studies directly. Students admitted to Albright SPS may begin their prior learning assessment immediately, working with their advisor to identify eligible experience and chart the fastest path to their degree.