The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University was established April 11, 1900 as The New York State School of Clay-working and Ceramics at Alfred University. When legislation was enacted creating the State University of New York (1948), the College became one of what are now five statutory units of the SUNY enterprise, continuing to be operated by Alfred University on behalf of the SUNY Board of Trustees. As a state-supported unit of Alfred University, students, faculty and staff gain the benefits of both a high quality, small university environment and a high quality public higher education system.

The Inamori School of Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science and the School of Art & Design comprise the specialized academic units within the College and are supported by the S.R. Scholes Library. In addition, the College dean oversees the Paul Vickers Gardner Glass Center, the NSF Industry-University Center for Glass Research, the New York State Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology, and the Institute for Electronic Arts, as well as an important core of administrative functions for reasons of efficiency, academic specialization, or state requirements.

Research expenditures for the current fiscal year total over $5 million, conducted primarily by faculty in the School of Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science. Approximately 60% of research at the College is sponsored by industry, allowing graduate students to obtain first-hand experience interacting with representatives from sponsoring companies. Multi-year projects funded by government agencies support cutting-edge basic research in computer modeling, electronics, materials, glass structure and properties, and composites.