Berea College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Berea College is a private university in Berea, Kentucky, enrolling about 1,513 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 19.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,150 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $51,658
- 2024 Average Net Price: $6,106 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 19.34% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,513 99.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 58.22%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 40.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 9.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 72.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 86.8%
- Average SAT Score: 1249
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,548
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,073
- Room & Board: $8,208 annual estimate
Berea College: what the data shows
Common questions about Berea College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Berea College?
Berea College is located in Berea, KY (ZIP 40404-2182).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Berea College public or private?
Berea College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Berea College cost?
Published tuition: $51,658.
Average net price after aid: $6,106.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $5,428 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,598 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,132 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $7,570 |
| $110,001+ | $13,700 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $206,632.
How hard is it to get into Berea College?
Admission rate: 19.34%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1249 and midpoint ACT 26.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Berea College?
Total enrollment: 1,513 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,548 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Berea College?
150%-time completion rate: 58.22%.
First-year retention: 79.2%.
What do graduates of Berea College earn?
Median earnings: $35,676 six years after entry; $43,150 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $3,591.
83.73% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Berea College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (31 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (29 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (20 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (17 completions)
- Psychology, General (16 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (13 completions)
- Human Development and Family Studies, General (12 completions)
- Art/Art Studies, General (12 completions)
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (11 completions)
- 00.0010 (10 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Berea College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 19.34%; completion rate 58.22%; median earnings $43,150 at 10 years; net price $6,106. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$51,658
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Berea College was $51,658.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$6,106
2024 Value
In 2024 Berea College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $6,106.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,424 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$6,106 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$206,632 4-Year Tuition
$8,208 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$750 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$60,616 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$242,464 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Berea College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
83.73% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
7.60% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Berea College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Berea College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $23,170 | $23,170 | $1,776 |
| 2014 | $24,270 | $24,270 | $3,067 |
| 2015 | $24,870 | $24,870 | $4,222 |
| 2016 | $25,470 | $25,470 | $4,706 |
| 2017 | $25,760 | $25,760 | $1,358 |
| 2018 | $39,990 | $39,990 | $1,964 |
| 2019 | $44,700 | $44,700 | $5,184 |
| 2020 | $45,092 | $45,092 | $5,222 |
| 2021 | $43,612 | $43,612 | $3,442 |
| 2022 | $45,026 | $45,026 | $2,601 |
| 2023 | $49,326 | $49,326 | $4,483 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
19.34% Acceptance Rate
2,073 Total Applicants
678 Students Admitted
413 First-Time Students Enrolled
60.91% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1249
ACT Average: 26
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.45
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Berea College reported total enrollment of about 1,513 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.8%), Black or African American (19.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (17.6%). About 83.73% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Berea College in 2024 is 1,513 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,548 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 41.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
35.62% 100% Completion Time
58.22% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.62% of students graduating from Berea College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General: 58% male / 42% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 50% male / 50% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Berea College.
Return on Investment
$3,591 Median Student Debt
$43,150 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
8.32% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1666.70% Return on Investment
0.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Berea College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 38 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 31 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 29 completions
3. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 20 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 17 completions
5. Psychology, General: 16 completions
6. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 13 completions
7. Human Development and Family Studies, General: 12 completions
8. Art/Art Studies, General: 12 completions
9. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 11 completions
Most popular programs at Berea College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Berea College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Berea College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 86.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,259
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $23,470
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Berea College is a private non-profit institution located in Berea, KY, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer and Information Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,513 students. Student body composition includes White (41.8%), Black or African American (19.6%), Hispanic or Latino (17.6%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 19.34%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1249. The 150%-time completion rate is 58.22%. Approximately 83.73% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Berea, KY 40404-2182
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Berea College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Berea College located?
Berea College is located in Berea, KY.
What is Berea College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Berea College is 19.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,073 applicants and 678 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Berea College cost?
Reported tuition is $51,658 and average net price is $6,106 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,208 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Berea College?
Berea College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,548 students, White (41.8%), Black or African American (19.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Berea College?
About 40.6% of students at Berea College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Berea College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Berea College reports midpoint SAT about 1249 and midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of Berea College earn?
Median earnings are $35,676 six years after entry and $43,150 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Berea College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 58.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Berea College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $3,591.
Is Berea College public or private?
Berea College is a private nonprofit institution located in Berea, KY.
Is Berea College an HBCU?
No. Berea College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Berea College a tribal college?
No. Berea College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Kentucky college costs
- Kentucky colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kentucky
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.