Berea’s Extraordinary Financial Plan

The cost to Berea College of providing educational opportunities (tuition) for 2021-2022 is $42,900 per student. Students admitted by the College are guaranteed substantial financial aid through resources other than their parent(s)—e.g., through outside scholarships, federal and state aid, and grants from participation in the College’s work program—sufficient to cover tuition. All students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships to help the college cover the cost of tuition, if students are not able to obtain scholarships to cover tuition, the College alumni and donors will help make up the difference. Most students receive additional grant assistance to help with the costs of housing, meals, and fees according to the families’ ability to pay as determined from family information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Financial Aid Program of Berea College is based on the principle of providing the best possible education for the least cost to the student. Many generations of donors to Berea College have provided a remarkable endowment and tuition replacement fund whereby no admitted student is asked to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, or what we refer to tuition.  Tuition is the cost to the College for a student's education; costs such as faculty and staff salaries, upkeep of non-residential buildings, etc..

Tuition is guaranteed to each student and is met through a combination of federal and state programs, donor-designated gifts, College funds, and outside scholarship awards. (See Student Expenses below for additional costs related to a Berea College education.)

In addition, Berea provides all first-year students with a laptop computer that is theirs to keep upon graduation. (See the Information Systems & Services section of the Catalog for more information.) Financial aid may be available for some special learning opportunities such as education abroad, internship, and domestic independent and team-initiated studies. (See Opportunities Common to Many Fields of Study section of this publication.)

The College assures that each student’s demonstrated financial need, as determined through a needs analysis system on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will be met. This is accomplished through  partnership with the student’s and family’s resources, the College’s work program, the Federal Work-Study program, public and private grants and scholarships, and, finally, a College grant or loan covering any remaining need.

Meeting the Cost of Education (2021-2022)

Tuition $42,900
Assistance Sources: Labor Grant $9,000
Federal or State Grant As eligible if available balance
Private Scholarship
Guaranteed by Berea
Total Assistance Sources $42,900