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Berea College

Berea, Kentucky 40404-2182

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege town

Known for business — close-knit campus

Berea College is a private institution in Berea with particular strength in business and computer science. With an average SAT of 1248, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.5K undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

62% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,150 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $4,483.

Established
1855
Motto
God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth.
Type
Private liberal arts work college
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

33%Acceptance
1248SAT Avg
1,472Students
9:1Student:Faculty
62%Grad Rate
$43,150Earnings 10yr
$4,483Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate32.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1248

Reading & WritingMid: 598
588680
MathMid: 596
568655

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 26
2427

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$49,326
Room & Board$7,892
Books & Supplies$700
Total Cost of Attendance$56,068
Average Net Price$4,483
Median Debt at Graduation$3,591
Monthly Payment (10yr)$38

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$4,070
$30–48K$3,613
$48–75K$5,844
$75–110K$7,570

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

88.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

13.8%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$3,516

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (37)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

88%

Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
1,472
Gender Split
59% / 41%
Women / Men
First Generation
41%
Pell Grant Recipients
81%

Race & Ethnicity

White 44%
Black 19%
Hispanic 16%
Asian 4%
Two+ 8%
Int'l 8%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate62.0%
Freshman Retention87.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,676
10 Years$43,150

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#40
vs 2024
Forbes
#453
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Mountaineers

Basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • Although the school's first articles of incorporation were adopted in 1859, slavery supporters forced Fee and the teachers out of the area that year.
  • In 1866, Berea's first full year after the war, it had 187 students, 96 Black and 91 white.
  • In 1869, the first college students were admitted, and the first bachelor's degrees were awarded in 1873.
  • Berea was the main exception until a new state law in 1904 forced its segregation.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

88Low

Estimated from KY state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Nashvillepop. 690K
169 mi(293 min)
Columbuspop. 900K
179 mi(310 min)
Indianapolispop. 880K
182 mi(315 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CVG Cincinnati104 mi
BNA Nashville165 mi
IND Indianapolis183 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA774 mi · ~22h 22m drive
New York, NY592 mi · ~17h 6m drive
Hartford, CT682 mi · ~19h 42m drive
Providence, RI744 mi · ~21h 30m drive
Albany, NY657 mi · ~18h 59m drive
Syracuse, NY572 mi · ~16h 31m drive
Rochester, NY522 mi · ~15h 5m drive
Buffalo, NY465 mi · ~13h 26m drive
Philadelphia, PA518 mi · ~14h 58m drive
Pittsburgh, PA304 mi · ~8h 47m drive
Harrisburg, PA439 mi · ~12h 41m drive
Newark, NJ584 mi · ~16h 52m drive
Washington, DC404 mi · ~11h 40m drive
Baltimore, MD432 mi · ~12h 29m drive
Atlanta, GA264 mi · ~7h 38m drive
Charlotte, NC251 mi · ~7h 15m drive
Raleigh, NC337 mi · ~9h 44m drive
Miami, FL851 mi · ~24h 35m drive
Orlando, FL646 mi · ~18h 40m drive
Tampa, FL673 mi · ~19h 27m drive
Nashville, TN169 mi · ~4h 53m drive
New Orleans, LA622 mi · ~17h 58m drive
Richmond, VA376 mi · ~10h 52m drive
Chicago, IL346 mi · ~10h drive
Detroit, MI335 mi · ~9h 41m drive
Minneapolis, MN691 mi · ~19h 58m drive
St. Louis, MO329 mi · ~9h 30m drive
Kansas City, MO567 mi · ~16h 23m drive
Indianapolis, IN182 mi · ~5h 15m drive
Columbus, OH179 mi · ~5h 10m drive
Cleveland, OH305 mi · ~8h 49m drive
Milwaukee, WI423 mi · ~12h 13m drive
Dallas, TX779 mi · ~22h 30m drive
Houston, TX834 mi · ~24h 6m drive
Austin, TX920 mi · ~26h 35m drive
San Antonio, TX991 mi · ~28h 38m drive
Los Angeles, CA1907 mi · ~55h 5m drive
San Francisco, CA2070 mi · ~59h 48m drive
San Diego, CA1877 mi · ~54h 13m drive
Seattle, WA2032 mi · ~58h 42m drive
Portland, OR2038 mi · ~58h 53m drive
Denver, CO1124 mi · ~32h 28m drive
Phoenix, AZ1582 mi · ~45h 42m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1488 mi · ~42h 59m drive
Honolulu, HI4457 mi · ~128h 45m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Berea College Application Checklist

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