Berea College (Berea, Kentucky) is a uniquely mission-driven liberal arts college that has not charged tuition since 1892 its model serves students of high potential and limited financial means by combining strong academics with a required student work program. Berea emphasizes access, community, and experiential learning in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Who can apply
Berea seeks students with academic promise, grit, and financial need. The College traditionally enrolls students from low-income families and evaluates applicants holistically considering coursework, GPA, test scores (if provided), essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and demonstrated character. Berea admits first-time college students, transfer, readmit, and international students (each with some specific documentation requirements)
Requirements (quick summary)
- Academic: Competitive admission. Most students score between 20–30 on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) and commonly have a cumulative high-school GPA ≈ 3.0 in a strong curriculum. Test-optional policy is available for domestic applicants.
- Financial eligibility: All applicants are assessed for financial eligibility; domestic applicants are required to submit the FAFSA as part of application consideration. Meeting the estimator guidelines doesn’t guarantee admission Berea makes a holistic financial assessment.
- International applicants: Must submit official secondary records (translated), a personal essay (2–5 pages), recommendations, a Financial Resource Recommendation form, and English proficiency or test scores (minimums listed on Berea’s site). International applicants may not apply test-optional and must provide one accepted English/test report within two years (examples: TOEFL iBT 68, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95; ACT/SAT minima also listed).
(For full checkliststranscripts, recommendation forms, test codes, and exact international score cutoffssee Berea’s international and admissions checklist pages.)
Deadlines & Important Dates (at a glance)
| Applicant Type | Important Dates / Notes |
|---|---|
| First-Year – Early Action I | Application Deadline: November 1 Decision: Mid-December Deposit Due: May 1. |
| First-Year – Early Action II | Application Deadline: January 31 – Decision: Mid-February – Deposit Due: May 1. |
| First-Year – Regular | Application Deadline: March 31 – Decision: April Deposit Due: May 1. |
| Transfer (Priority / Regular) | Deadlines: Jan 31 / Mar 31 – Decision Mid-Feb / April. |
| International | Application Deadline: December 15 – Decision Mid-March — Deposit Due May 1. |
| Readmit / Spring/Fall | See Berea’s readmit dates (Oct 1 / Feb 1). |
Berea operates rolling admissions but encourages early application/meeting Early Action deadlines. Always check the Admissions pages for the academic year you plan to apply.
What Berea Offers (highlights)
- No tuition Berea has not charged tuition to enrolled students since 1892; tuition is $0 for enrolled students, and the College covers as much housing, meals, and fees as allowed by FAFSA/eligibility.
- Labor (Work) Program: Every student works in campus jobs that provide pay or credit and real-world experience a distinctive part of the Berea education.
- Strong liberal-arts curriculum: Over 30 majors (B.A./B.S. options), independent major option, a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and experiential learning (study abroad, paid internships).
- Student support & resources: Free laptop, internship funding (average figures displayed on site), professional clothing stipend for juniors/seniors, and targeted programs to support first-generation and low-income students.
- Community & location: Nestled in Appalachian foothills with strong craft, farm, and outdoor programs (college farm, craft centers, forestry outreach).
How to apply (quick steps)
- Start the free online application (Berea application portal).
- Prepare transcripts, test scores (if applicable), essay, recommendations, and FAFSA (domestic). International applicants follow the international checklist and submit required English/test documents.
- Submit before the chosen deadline (EA I, EA II, or Regular) and monitor your application portal for requests and decisions.
Final notes
Berea is an excellent fit for motivated students who need financial support and want to combine rigorous academics with hands-on work experience. The College’s mission access for students of limited means makes it stand out among U.S. liberal arts colleges. For up-to-date detail (majors, exact program rules, forms, and the application portal), always consult Berea’s official Admissions pages linked below.
Apply to Berea College — Official Sitevisit https://dares2dream.com/
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