“No student shall be shut out of Berea because of poverty. This is our resolution.”

—William J. Hutchins
Berea College President, 1920-1939

President William J. Hutchins’ words resonate as strongly with Berea students in the 21st Century as they did in 1920. At Berea, talented students with limited economic means find a place where a world-class education is available to them.

Each of our 1,500 students receives a full-tuition scholarship, valued at $23,400 in 2007–08, which can mean the difference between a life of unmet potential and a future full of possibilities. In recent years, about 85 percent of our incoming freshmen have been eligible for federal Pell grants, based on their families’ limited incomes.

In addition to tuition scholarships, students receive financial support through our required work program, which enables them to earn money for other educational expenses such as housing, meals, and books. In more than 140 departments – from Berea College Crafts to the computer center – students learn, work, and serve.

Because we charge no tuition, earnings from our endowment must replace tuition income. Berea’s endowment is a pool of money raised over many decades as a way of ensuring the College’s future. The College uses a portion of the long-term growth to cover about 77 percent of operating expenses each year. The other 23 percent of operating costs must be generated through gifts to the Berea Fund and other sources. The Berea Fund goal for 2007–08 is $4.2 million.

We still honor the words of President Hutchins and other Berea leaders before and after him. Thanks to the generosity of donors, no student has ever been shut out of Berea because of limited financial means.

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