For more than a century, Berea College has covered tuition for every student. Now, we're going further. Every Berea student receives a fully funded educational experience—including tuition, housing, meals, and transformative opportunities like internships. This is more than financial aid. It's a reimagining of what higher education can be.
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.
Educational opportunity is one of the surest ways to move people toward a better, more satisfying life, full of meaning and service.
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
For more than 170 years, Berea College has served students from limited economic resources coupled with a belief that a student’s future should never be determined by their family’s financial circumstances.
Generous support ensures that we continue to award our 100% Full Scholarship Package, with no loans—to all students, all four years.
Who is eligible for Berea's Fully Funded 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.
Who benefits?
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.
Beyond "Fully Funded"
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.
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 $4,000 to fund internship experiences. By combining a fully funded education with these practical resources, Berea empowers students to navigate the modern economy and build a stable financial future.
The MoneyWi$e program is at the center of this mission, setting 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.
Student Support
$400Stipend provided for professional clothing
We provide juniors and seniors with funds to buy professional clothing, and we even take them to a department store where a representative helps them make the best choices.
$0Cost for a new laptop, issued to each accepted student
Berea empowers its students by providing a laptop at no cost, which they can keep when they graduate.
$4,000The average amount provided to each student for an internship experience.
Berea College funds internship opportunities for every student to help them grow, learn and find their career paths.
