We’re looking for students with grit, determination and financial need. Students ready to take on a rigorous, top-ranked liberal arts education and turn it into a rewarding career. Students willing to work, to grow, and to expand their horizons through diversity. And students who want to join a community of support that is invested in their success.
Is this you? Learn more about what Berea College has to offer.
The Berea Difference
Berea is covering all tuition, housing, food, and fee expenses.
That's one faculty member for every eight students.
No Tuition
$0. That’s how much 1,454 Berea College students paid for tuition last year. Berea College believes your income shouldn’t limit your outcome, which is why we have not charged students tuition since 1892. Learn more here.
Berea has given me the opportunity to receive an education without worrying about money. There are tons of resources and opportunities that I never would have used had I gone to a more expensive school.
Academics
Recognized among America’s top schools, Berea College combines academic rigor with a diverse and supportive learning community. Berea College offers majors in more than 33 fields of study that can lead to Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and/or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees. Don’t see your exact major? An Independent Major option is available to students who want to pursue a customized field of study that isn’t already an established major program. Explore what Berea has to offer!
Student Voices
Supportive Environment
We're in this together
Nationally, just 21 percent of first generation and economically disadvantaged students graduate college within six years. At Berea, our graduation rate for these groups is three times as high.
At a Glance
We provide juniors and seniors with funds to buy professional clothing, and we even take them to a department store where a representative helps them make the best choices.
Berea empowers its students by providing a laptop at no cost, which they can keep when they graduate.
Berea College funds internship opportunities that help students grow, learn and find their career paths.
Why?
It’s because we know that just selecting you for admission is not enough. Low-income students face pressures and life situations that wealthier students do not. Because of that, Berea College has developed programming to help students transition into college, through college, and out into a career after college. It helps, too, that all of our students are in the same financial boat, meaning nobody is alone here.
Opportunities
We encourage our students to explore opportunities that will make their four years unforgettable—from studying abroad, to paid internships and labor positions that explore their range of interests.
Labor Program
Berea College hires every student to work campus jobs that enhance their education while preparing them for life after college. When our students enter the professional world, the experience they have gained in the labor program gives them an advantage over graduates from other schools. Learn more about the program.
Upon graduating from Berea College, Xhafer Rama ’17 began working at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where he developed a software platform for the U.S. Department of Defense that collects data about the mosquito-borne illness Chikungunya.
Life at Berea
Berea College offers a collaborative learning environment where faculty, staff and students grow as individuals and as a community.
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Berea is a place where art, crafts, music and the imagination thrive. We support a wealth of local eateries, and the area is a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts—including biking, hiking, kayaking and more. On campus, we offer engaging programs, athletics, and 60+ active recognized organizations and clubs. Explore life at Berea!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity is in our DNA
Since 1855, Berea College has believed in the power of education to transform students and employees from all walks of life. The College was the first interracial, co-educational institution established in the South. Founded by ardent abolitionist, John G. Fee, the institution of Berea firmly believes that, “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth.” This is the motto of the school.
Many former and current students will tell you their experience with diversity at Berea shaped them in several ways. It has made them better students, leaders, and people.
Since the 1800s, Berea College has been a leader in higher education. Because our founder, Rev. John G. Fee, was a staunch abolitionist advocating for immediate emancipation and full citizenship for enslaved Africans, diversity has always been in our DNA. The mission wasn’t just racial equality, but to erase the very idea that superficial attributes, including wealth, had anything to do with whether a student “deserved” a good education.
Contact Us
Berea College | 209 Chestnut St. | Haaga House | CPO 2220 | Berea, KY 40404 | 800-326-5948 | askadmissions@berea.edu