Admissions

"Berea College’s commitment to serving students from Southern Appalachia and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is demonstrated by the fact that 75-80 percent of the student population comes from that region. The remainder represents approximately 40 states nationally and close to 80 other countries. In keeping with its abolitionist roots and commitment to social justice, Berea College seeks to serve “all peoples of the earth” and places particular emphasis on interracial and intercultural education, as well as service-based learning initiatives. Because Berea also is committed to serving those students with demonstrated economic need, the College restricts admission to promising students whose families cannot finance a comparable college education without significant assistance. Financial need is a requirement for admission, and every student admitted to Berea receives a four-year tuition scholarship that, in combination with other grant-based aid, covers 100 percent of tuition costs."

Berea College has a national reputation for academic excellence. Therefore, a Berea education is highly prized, and admission is competitive. The College seeks to enroll students who possess limited financial resources and who are motivated to grow intellectually and personally in an environment shaped by the Great Commitments.

In the admissions process, emphasis is placed on the candidate’s academic record, particularly the kind and strength of courses taken and the grades earned. The College recommends, but does not require, that applicants complete the following high-school academic distribution:

• Four units of English (including composition, rhetoric, and literature)
• Three units of Mathematics (at least Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)
• Two units of Laboratory Science
• Two units of Social Science/History (including World History)
• Two units of Foreign Language

Those wishing to explore whether they meet the financial criterion for admission to Berea College may use the following table as an approximate guide. If more than one family member is attending college or there are unusual expenses, the estimated annual income limit may be higher.

The amount that Berea College charges a student for housing and food varies in accordance with his or her family’s ability to contribute toward these expenses. The average first-year student pays $1,560 annually toward these costs, but will earn approximately $1,200 in the Labor Program. The student-loan debt of Berea graduates is one-third of the national average and many Berea students graduate debt-free. Those who do assume student loans frequently use these funds to help finance educational experiences abroad in such locations as Africa, Asia, Australia, Central and South America, and Europe. Approximately 50 percent of the College’s graduates spend some time abroad during their student experience at Berea.

All applicants who meet the faculty-established minimum criteria for admission to the college (ACT Composite score of 17 or SAT I Verbal and Math score of 820 and rank in the top three-fifths of the high-school class) must participate in a personal interview with an admissions counselor. Unless an applicant has recently visited campus, most interviews will take place on campus as a component of a formal campus visit. Reservations for visits to campus must be made at least three working days in advance of the visit. In keeping with Berea’s commitment to serving those with limited economic resources, the College does not charge an application fee.

Applying as a Freshman

Berea College accepts academically capable students who are driven toward success, are not afraid to work hard to achieve their goals, and wish to make a difference in the world. In recent years, admitted applicants have ranked in the top two-fifths of their high-school graduating class and have scored between 20 and 30 on the ACT or 930 and 1350 on the
SAT I. While academic factors are most important, the Admissions Decision Team also considers each applicant’s motivation, leadership potential, special talents, and community service.

Berea has no formal closing date for application for admission; however, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible in the fall of their senior year in high school. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but well qualified applicants may be accepted for fall admission as early as December 15, provided that all application materials are submitted by November 30. Thereafter, admission decisions are made and applicants are notified of their status within four weeks of completion of the admissions file. Applicants who do not rank in the top two-fifths of their high-school graduating class or who score less than 20 on the ACT or 930 on the SAT I may not be notified of a final decision until May 1.

To be considered for admission to Berea College as a first-year student, an applicant must participate in a personal interview with an admissions counselor and submit the following materials:

• A completed “Application for Admission and Scholarship” form, including personal essays.
• A completed “Family Resource Questionnaire” (Fall Term applicants only, if applying prior to February 1).
• The Counselor Class Rank Form (to be completed by the high-school guidance counselor; GED holders and
  home-school applicants need not submit this form).
• Official high-school transcript (GED holders should submit official GED scores in lieu of high-school transcripts; home-schooled students should submit a list of textbooks and laboratory facilities used if no transcript is available).
• Official ACT or SAT I scores.
• A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Two letters of recommendation written by a current or former teacher for currently enrolled high-school or transfer applicants for admission.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Berea College accepts a limited number of transfer students. In recent years, admitted transfer applicants have presented a collegiate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and have been in good academic and disciplinary standing at the college or university they most recently attended. To be eligible for admission, transfer applicants must have fewer than 45 transferable semester hours of college/university credit and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Transfer applicants with courses currently in progress and less than a 2.5 GPA may be offered provisional admission. Should their cumulative GPA fall below 2.0 upon completion of these courses, the offer of admission will be rescinded. Additionally, all Spring Term transfer applicants already must meet Berea’s minimum standards of proficiency in basic mathematical skills. At least one academic year in residence at Berea is required of all degree candidates.
To be considered for admission to Berea College as a transfer student, an applicant must submit the following materials:

• A completed “Application for Admission and Scholarship” form, including one personal essay.
• Official college/university transcripts from all institutions attended.
• A completed “Family Resource Questionnaire” (Fall Term applicants only, if applying before February 1).
• Official high-school transcript (GED holders should submit official GED scores in lieu of high-school transcripts; home-schooled students should submit a list of textbooks and laboratory facilities used if no transcript is available).
• The Counselor Class Rank Form (to be completed by the high-school guidance counselor; GED holders and home-school applicants need not submit this form).
• Official ACT or SAT I scores (if fewer than 24 transferable college credits have been completed).
• A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Two letters of recommendation for applicants who are currently or have been enrolled recently.

Transfer Credit

Only courses and earned credits completed with a grade of C or higher at a regionally accredited institution are transferable to Berea College. The amount of credit granted by the original institution will be honored by Berea and transposed into comparable course credits or fractions of course credits. If not accepted to meet a specific requirement, such credit can be accepted as an elective credit. One course credit at Berea represents four semester hours or six quarter hours elsewhere. No credit is granted for courses numbered below 100.

Credit for a course in which a P, S, or credit grade has been earned will be granted only if documentation stating that the work in the course was at least at the C grade level is sent directly to Berea College from the registrar of the school or from the instructor of the course.

A student currently enrolled at Berea who wishes to transfer credit earned at another regionally accredited institution must have approval in advance from both the Director of Academic Services and the chairperson of the academic department in which the course would be offered at Berea. In addition to the transfer-credit policies stated above, the following policies apply to courses taken elsewhere:

• Once a Berea College student has accumulated 16.75 course credits (67 semester hours), including previously transferred credit, no transfer credit will be granted for courses taken at a community, junior, or other two-year college.
• Eight (8) of the last eleven (11) courses required for completion of the degree must be earned in residence at
  Berea College. Exceptions can be approved by the Student Admission and Academic Standing Committee.
• Credit is transferred only on the basis of an official transcript mailed directly to: Office of Academic Services,
  CPO 2205, Berea College, Berea, KY 40404. It is the student’s responsibility to request this document from the registrar where the work was taken.
• Only credit is transferred to Berea; not grades or quality points. Transfer credit is not used in computing the GPA
  at Berea College and higher grades will not replace lower grades on the Berea transcript.
• Credit cannot be given for any course that is the equivalent of a course previously completed at Berea College.
• Any course in which a grade of ‘F’ has been earned at Berea can only be repeated at Berea.

International Students: Except through the Berea College Advanced Standing Examination Program, college- or university-level academic credit will NOT be evaluated for the possibility of transfer credit unless the applicant indicates
the name and dates of attendance for any other college or university on the application for admission.

Time Limit for Earned Credit

All course credits used to satisfy Berea’s degree requirements must have been earned within 10 years of the date of the student’s initial enrollment at Berea College or at another regionally accredited institution. An exception to this rule may be granted with approval of both the Director of Academic Services and the Chairperson of the Department in which the student is majoring or plans to major.