Berea College (Berea, KY)
Berea College is a full-participation, work-study, liberal arts college located in the rural town of Berea, Kentucky, south of Lexington. Established in 1855, the college was the first school in the South to be coeducational and racially integrated.
Berea is known for its lack of tuition costs. Each student’s four-year education is covered by a full-ride scholarship, currently worth over $100,000. Admission is only granted to students who need financial aid. The need is established using the same parameters used by FAFSA. Students earn their keep by working a minimum of 10 hours per week. They are paid anywhere from $4.10–$6.55 per hour for their time, depending on the difficulty level of their job. It is one of only eight colleges in the U.S. with a mandated work-study program.
Admission from foreign countries is limited to one student per country, except for countries currently under distress such as those experiencing war or natural disaster. Fifty percent of students study abroad during their time at Berea.
The college is also known for its diverse student body. One in every three students represents a racial minority. U.S. News & World Report named it the #1 comprehensive college in the South. Washington Monthly ranks it as the #3 liberal arts college in the country.
Berea College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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