Berea College
A good fit for competitive applicants and families who need the lowest possible cost. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker; 84% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Berea College is a private nonprofit institution located in Berea, Kentucky with approximately 1,513 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 19%. The average net price after financial aid is $6,106 per year. The graduation rate is 58%, and the typical graduate earns $36,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Berea College is a private liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1855, it was the first college in the Southern United States to be coeducational and racially integrated. It admitted non-White students from as early as 1866 until 1904, and again after 1954.
This is a strong option for students who need financial help, as the average net price of just $4,483 per year — paired with a median graduation debt of only $3,516 — makes it one of the most affordable four-year colleges in the country. The numbers tell a mixed story, though: a 62% graduation rate suggests a meaningful share of students don't finish, which is worth asking about during a visit. If you're a motivated, mission-aligned student who will take full advantage of the work-college model and small community, the value here is genuinely hard to beat.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 31 | $82,491 | $92,374 | −$9,883 |
| Biology, General | 26 | $32,729 | $57,214 | −$24,485 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 26 | $41,723 | $56,359 | −$14,636 |
| Psychology, General | 22 | $40,768 | $50,706 | −$9,938 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 19 | $55,830 | $80,526 | −$24,696 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 13 | $40,722 | $48,590 | −$7,868 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 8 | $29,013 | $41,367 | −$12,354 |
| Education, General | 4 | $36,412 | $49,808 | −$13,396 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,513 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Berea College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Berea College?
Berea College has an acceptance rate of 19%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Berea College hard to get into?
Berea College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 19%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Berea College cost?
The average net price at Berea College is about $6,106 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Berea College?
Berea College has a graduation rate of 58%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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