Berea's Financial Freedom Pledge
We don’t just award financial aid. We offer financial freedom.
At Berea, we do financial aid differently—and we try to do it right. Berea offers a solution to the complex world of financial aid by staying true to our pledge and four clear principles.
Berea's Financial Freedom Pledge
We provide educational opportunity by taking away financial costs. We offer you a no-tuition, no-loan degree that covers all expenses allowed by your FAFSA and graduates you with the least debt possible.
Every single Berea student receives our Financial Freedom Pledge, guaranteeing a fully funded college degree. We stopped charging tuition in 1892–and continue to work to provide groundbreaking college affordability.
The Financial Freedom Pledge makes good on Berea’s No-Tuition Commitment—and works with your FAFSA to pay as much housing, food, and fees as possible.
Berea funds 100 percent of your “calculated financial need,” and you pay only what your FAFSA SAI requires. If your SAI determines that you must contribute some funding toward your education, Berea will work with you to create summer opportunities to cover those costs.
Berea is one of only approximately 25 colleges that does not require loans as part of your funding. We are the #1 college in the country for graduating students with the lowest debt (U.S. News & World Report, 2025).
Berea’s Financial Aid Package
We took tuition off the table, so you can take a seat at it.
We start with our No-Tuition Commitment and add individualized scholarship elements that cover everything your FAFSA allows. At a minimum, your Financial Freedom Pledge includes your:
Our No-Tuition Commitment—guaranteed for every student, all four years. This is the bedrock of our Financial Freedom Pledge. $54,700 off the table each year.
After no tuition, we work with your FAFSA to cover as much of your housing, food, and fees as possible. We’re trying to fund as much of your experience as we can. This can take $11,000 off the table each year. You pay no more than your SAI requires.
Free laptop, professional clothes, funded internships, study abroad support—perks that make your experience complete.
Berea's Financial Freedom Model
Free to dream bigger, try harder, and go further.
The Foundation: Our No-Tuition Commitment
The Boost: We cover as much Housing, Food, and Fees as allowed by your FAFSA.
The Extras: We provide an unparalleled set of completely free opportunities, including:
