Admissions Requirements

In addition to a completed application, successful applicants are likely to be those who show the strongest possible combination of character recommendation, scholastic standing, and financial need.

Academic Eligibility
Admission to Berea College is academically competitive. We have a limited number of spaces in each year's entering class, and are looking for financially deserving students who have strong academic potential.

Most of our students score between 20 and 30 on the ACT (1410 -1980 SAT) and have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 in a strong College Prep curriculum. Students may take either the ACT or SAT. We also consider other factors such as community service, leadership qualities, and levels of motivation.

We strongly recommend the following high school curriculum:

• Four (4) units of English (including composition, rhetoric, and literature)
• Three (3) units of Mathematics (at least Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)
• Two (2) units of Laboratory Science
• Two (2) units of Social Science/History (including World History)
• Two (2) units of foreign language

 

Transcripts and official score reports are required for evaluation of academic qualifications.

Financial Eligibility
Since Berea College provides a remarkable opportunity for students who have great academic promise but limited economic resources by awarding everyone a 4-year, tuition scholarship, the College has established a policy for determining each family's financial eligibility for admission.
For 2008-09, that policy permits a maximum annual parental contribution of $4,750—as determined by Congressional Methodology, using each family's information as provided on the FAFSA. Because of this, Kentucky students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA form by March 15th. All other students should submit FAFSA information by April 15th and no later than May 1st of the calendar year the student plans to enroll. Students may submit the Family Resources Questionnaire online to be considered for admission prior to the availability of the FAFSA. You may submit your FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

The income scale (shown right) is provided to give students and their families an idea of maximum income levels which might qualify a student for admission to Berea. Please understand that these are general guidelines only and should be used as such, since final determination could be affected by such factors as: number of family members in college, untaxed income, and social security benefits.

The amounts listed are with reference to the family's 2006 income and are likely to be adjusted slightly upward in future years. If your family's income falls near, or below, the figures listed, we strongly encourage you to submit an application for admission.