Washington Monthly names Berea College No. 1 Best Liberal Arts College, No. 1 Best Bang for the Buck in the South

September 12, 2024

BEREA, Ky. – Washington Monthly has ranked Berea College the top liberal arts college in the nation in its 2024 College Guide and Rankings, up one spot from the 2023 rankings. 

Berea College retained its ranking as the No. 1 Best Bang for the Buck College in the South in this year’s guide. Additional rankings include No. 1 in Pell performance, No. 17 in service (up five spots from last year), and No. 2 in social mobility.

“Berea College is a unique institution in that we have both a no-tuition policy and in addition, over a number of years, we have developed a generous total financial aid policy,” said Berea College President Cheryl Nixon. “We give every student who comes to Berea College 100% of their financial aid needs guaranteed–with no loans. Additionally, we look for other ways to help our students afford their complete college expenses. One example of that is our recent announcement that agenerous anonymous donor has covered all student course fees for the 2024-25 academic year.

“Washington Monthly rankings are significant because they take into account the affordability element – that students are coming to college and they graduate debt free while also explaining what higher ed institutions are doing for the public good,” Nixon added. “We are honored to have been named the magazine’s top liberal arts college in the nation, and we will continue working to help our students graduate with low debt, an exceptional liberal arts degree, a commitment to service, and an excellent job outlook.” 

In its discussion of the Best Bang for the Buck schools, Washington Monthly says “much more credit should go to the regionally focused public and private universities on this list that consistently manage to do more with less,” adding that Berea College is one of two colleges leading the way in the South as an “institution that keeps prices in check while generating strong outcomes.” 

Berea College’s mission is to provide low-income students with a high-quality liberal arts education. At Berea, 96% of students receive federal Pell Grants, and the average annual household income of students’ families is about $32,000. Nationally, graduation rates for students in that demographic are only in the mid-teens. By contrast, about two-thirds of Berea students graduate on time, with many going on to earn advanced degrees.

The Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings can be found online at: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/.

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