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Berea , KY
Berea College is a unique and prestigious liberal arts institution located in Berea, Kentucky. Established in 1855, it holds the distinction of being the first interracial and coeducational college in the southern United States. Berea College has built a strong reputation for its commitment to providing a high-quality education to students from economically disadvantaged families.
One of the key aspects that sets Berea College apart is its tuition-free policy. All enrolled students receive a full four-year scholarship, which covers not only their tuition but also their textbooks. The college's focus on affordability aims to break down barriers to higher education and ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to pursue their academic goals. Moreover, Berea College operates on its unique labor program, in which students work at least 10 hours per week on campus to cover living expenses.
At Berea College, students have access to an exceptional liberal arts education. The college offers a wide range of majors and programs, including fields such as arts and humanities, science, social sciences, and technology. The faculty at Berea College are accomplished scholars who are dedicated to providing students with a challenging yet supportive learning environment. With a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, students benefit from personalized attention and mentoring, fostering a strong sense of community and academic success.
In summary, Berea College stands out as a prestigious liberal arts institution that prioritizes access and affordability. Its tuition-free policy, coupled with the labor program, enables students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a high-quality education without incurring heavy financial burdens. With a diverse range of academic programs and a supportive faculty, Berea College is well-regarded for its commitment to student success and transforming lives through education.
Located in Berea, KY, Berea College is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 19%. The freshman retention rate at Berea College is 79% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is March 31. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 31.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Berea College.
Quick Facts
1,527
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$50,900
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for Berea College?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 746 in 2025. Berea College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant.
Test Scores
6% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 35% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 12.5% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 45.8% between 1,200 and 1,399, 37.5% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 4.2% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 15.5, 51.4 between 24-29, 32.4 in the range between 18-23, and 0.7 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 25 while the average GPA was 3.59. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 628 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 600.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to this school is March 31. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 31.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Berea College was 79% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 58%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 1,527 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 54. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,527, 138 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 45.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 621 male and 893 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Berea College.
This school had 56 Asian students and 297 Afro-American students in 2025. 266 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 112 identified with more than one race. There were also 9 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $50,900 in 2025. As Berea College is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $758 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $750.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Berea College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $8,208. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $4,202 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 50,900 |
| Room and Board | $ 8,208 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 750 |
| Total Expense | $ 59,858 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Berea College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 413 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $56,917.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
1,468 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Berea College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 1,468. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $7,981,748, and state $5,035,393. The students of Berea College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $66,583,896, and external in the amount of $157,653.
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Berea College was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 195 faculty members. This number included 51 men and 103 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Berea College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Berea College: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at Berea College.
Its campus is 140 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 58. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Berea College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Berea College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Berea College.
All in all, campus life at Berea College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Berea College.
Career Counselling
At Berea College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Berea College is located in Berea, KY.
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Berea College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 50,900 USD per academic year for Berea College.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Berea College is 19%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Berea College is 79%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.