Alfred University (Alfred) is a small university in the Town of Alfred in western New York State, USA, an hour south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 400 graduate students.

On April 14, 2005, the University announced it had received a gift of $35 million from alumnus Marlin Miller '54, and his wife Ginger, in support of arts education. The gift is the largest ever in AU’s history, and may be one of the largest endowment gifts made to a U.S. institution to support arts education. $10 million is earmarked for a new theatre at the Miller Performing Arts Center, previously funded by the Millers, and $25 million will go towards endowment.