From the very beginning, Berea College was founded to be accessible to people who otherwise could not afford a college education. As the first interracial and coeducational college in the South, Berea was open to all people in the region, regardless of race, gender or ability to pay. No Berea student has paid tuition since 1892. Learn how Berea College has provided a tuition-free education for more than a century.
Why is Berea College tuition-free?
We believe a college education is crucial for success in the modern world and that it should be available to everyone. With the average annual cost of tuition at nearly $45,000, the kind of education Berea provides is out of reach for many, unless they want to take on an enormous amount of debt. We’re proud to say that more than half of recent Berea graduates had no debt at all, the other half owes a fraction of the national average for student debt.
How can Berea College afford to not charge tuition?
Berea College is such a special place that generations of people have been inspired to support us financially. Starting a century ago, all estate gifts to the College—money or real estate left to us in the wills of generous supporters—were deposited into our endowment. Read about this historic decision here. Over time, this endowment has grown to more than $1 billion. Our endowment earnings provide 74% of our operating budget. Another 19% comes from state and federal aid. Generous donors help us raise the remaining 7% every year.
Our mission is impossible without generosity
To continue our mission, we must raise nearly $5 million annually. Thanks to our donors, we have met this goal each and every year. This means we are able to provide nearly 1,600 students with a Tuition Promise Scholarship to cover the cost of tuition. This is a full-tuition scholarship for all admitted students.
Who is eligible for Berea's Tuition Promise Scholarship?
Students with strong academic potential and financial need are encouraged to apply. Berea is academically competitive. The average ACT score of our students is about 25—which is above the national average—and more than half of our first-year students ranked in the top fifth of their high school class.
Students with strong academic potential and financial need are encouraged to apply. A Berea education impacts EVERYONE. Society as a whole benefits from an educated populace. We have example after example of Berea alumni who have changed the world. But to be very specific, we benefit first-generation and low-income college students who otherwise could not afford to pay for their education. We benefit the Appalachian region when graduates return to their hometowns and invest in their communities. Our motto, “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth” (Acts 17:26), speaks to our mission to benefit as many people as possible.
At Berea College, we know access is only the beginning. Financial stress often prevents students from finishing their degrees, so we provide specific support for first-generation students and those from limited-income backgrounds. The goal is to ensure every student has the resources necessary to graduate and successfully transition into a career.
The MoneyWi$e program is at the center of this mission, turning a No Tuition Promise into a foundation for long-term success. Through MoneyWi$e, students receive personal coaching and attend workshops on budgeting, building credit, and investing. This financial training ensures that many Berea graduates are not just debt-free, but financially capable.
Beyond the classroom, Berea removes the hidden costs of education by providing every student with a laptop at no cost. We also offer a $400 stipend for professional clothing and an average of $4,000 to fund internship experiences. By combining a tuition-free education with these practical resources, Berea empowers students to navigate the modern economy and build a stable financial future.
