How we do it

Because the students Berea was serving could not afford even a modest cost, Berea College scrapped tuition altogether in 1892. Going tuition-free meant finding other ways to fund a comprehensive liberal arts education for Appalachia’s best and brightest. Today, your No-Tuition Commitment and Financial Freedom Pledge are covered through our endowment, federal and state funding, and the generous support of donors who believe in a Berea education. 

In 1920, Berea’s Board of Trustees required that all future unrestricted estate gifts (money and assets donated to the College after death) must go to Berea’s endowment. Over time, the endowment grew enough from this wise decision to generate returns that could fund our students’ educational costs.  Our endowment covers, on average, approximately 73 percent of the total cost of attendance—tuition, housing, food, fees, books, transportation, and personal costs—for every admitted student today.

For most students, almost 20 percent of the total cost of attendance comes from federal and state grants. All Berea College students qualify for federal Pell Grants. Pell Grants vary from student to student, providing approximately 8 percent of the total cost of attendance. Because we are one of ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students receive a federal Work College Scholarship as well, which provides another 10 percent of cost coverage. Students work 10 hours each week and are rewarded with both tuition funding and a Work College Scholarship disbursement each month.

Each year, we must raise the final 7 percent of costs through fundraising. Berea College alumni and friends throughout the country believe in our mission and are inspired by our students—enough to cover an annual funding gap of around $5 million.