Below you’ll find complete application instructions for a first time college student who has not attended another institution of higher education after graduating high school or earning a GED.

First-Years	Early Action	Priority	Regular
Application Deadline	October 31	November 30	March 31
Decision Notification	mid-late December	mid-late February	early April
Deposit Due	May 1	May 1	May 1

Our October 31 Early Action Deadline is perfect for students who have Berea in the top 3 on their college list. Why? On average, 44% of applicants who meet this deadline get in compared to our overall acceptance rate of 30%. Plus, you will receive an admissions decision before the holiday break and it’s non-binding so you have time to ultimately determine if Berea is right for you.

1. Apply for Free Online

Complete the Berea College Application for Admission, which also serves as your No-Tuition Promise application. There is no application fee.

2. High School Transcript

Request an official copy of your most recent transcript or GED results. Home school students who don’t have a transcript should complete the Home School Supplement form.

3. School Counselor Evaluation Form

Ask your School Counselor to provide us with class rank information by completing the School Counselor Evaluation form. If your school does not rank, they will still complete the School Counselor Evaluation Form and indicate that it does not rank, plus provide some additional important information. (PDF version)

4. Teacher Recommendation Form

Ask a teacher from a core subject area (e.g. Math, Science, English) to complete the Teacher Recommendation Form. (PDF version)

5. Official Test Scores

Students who believe their scores are an accurate representation of their ability should submit them. Visit actstudent.org (ACT scores) or collegeboard.org (SAT scores) to send your official scores to us. Our ACT school code is 1492 and SAT school code is 1060. Due to limited access to the exams over the past several months, Berea College’s application process for Fall 2021 will be test score optional. Those who choose not to submit scores will be given the same consideration as those who do. Learn more about test score optional at Berea. 

6. FAFSA

Submit the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov. It is available October 1. Berea’s FAFSA code is 001955.

*For eligible non-citizens, depending on your USCIS status, a copy of your permanent resident card or employment authorization card will be required.

Click on the icon to the left to download a printable version of the Berea College Application Checklist.