The residence hall program exists to foster a strong spirit of community throughout its fourteen halls. This program is designed to fulfill the commitments and purposes of the College in fostering social responsibility, interracial living, academic pursuits, social interaction, spiritual growth and individual development. It provides opportunities for leadership, work and exploration of values and the development of lasting friendships.

Berea College offers variety in residence hall living. The fourteen residence halls vary in architecture, size, room arrangement and traditions. In the majority of the halls, double or single rooms open onto conventional hallways. Three of the halls, Danforth, James and Kettering, accommodate groups who, because they live in suites, can participate in a family living experience.

The residence hall experience is an important component of a Berea College education. The Collegium and the residence hall student staff seek to support the academic mission by creating and maintaining an environment conducive to good study habits. However, the college recognizes the inherent educational value of the residence hall experience. The residence hall is, in many ways, a microcosm of those communities in which students will live and work throughout their lives. By engaging students in a process of positive interdependence whereby they can create communities, they will develop invaluable life skills such as communication, empathy, conflict resolution and consensus building. The residential experience is based on a shared sense of common good, something students should learn to value and seek to create throughout their lives.