Allegheny College launches $250 million capital campaign

Maddie Aiken / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny College launched a capital campaign Monday that will aim to raise $250 million to bolster the private college and its surrounding community.

More than $125 million already has been raised for the campaign — dubbed “In for Allegheny: Our Pathway Forward” — that will run through June 2027.

This is the Meadville school’s largest capital campaign to date, school officials said.

“[The campaign] celebrates Allegheny College pride by creating an alignment of shared purpose that ultimately is bigger than all of us individually,” college President Ron Cole said in a news release. “We are investing in and will be bold in our focus on academic excellence and outcomes that are relevant to students, our region and our world.”

Fundraising efforts during Mr. Cole’s leadership have brought the highest level of donor support in Allegheny College’s 209-year history, according to school officials. Mr. Cole was named the college’s 23rd president two years ago. 

The capital campaign will support five broad goals in the college’s strategic plan: academic excellence and strong outcomes; operational and financial stability; vibrant and inclusive campus; community and economic development; and deliver educational content in new and innovative ways. 

Specific objectives include introducing new majors, renovating and repurposing academic buildings, establishing a faculty research center and forging partnerships in the greater Meadville region. 

The campaign also will aim to elevate the school’s profile. Alumni specifically are urged to encourage prospective students to check out the liberal arts college. 

That nudge comes as the private school has seen its enrollment fall. Between fall 2013 and fall 2022, the college’s student population dropped more than 37%, from 2,161 students to 1,353, according to Department of Education data. Many smaller, regional schools in the Northeast are experiencing a similar trend.

Allegheny College did see a bump in new students in fall 2024, though, according to the college.

Located 90 miles north of Pittsburgh, Allegheny College currently offers more than 25 majors and nearly 40 minors. Students are required to choose a major and minor in different areas of study.