Your future, fully funded.

Berea College is revolutionizing the economics of higher education.

See the pledge

We are the first college in the country to exclusively admit students with unlimited potential and limited resources, and to provide every student with a fully funded degree—covering tuition, housing, food, and fees, without loans and without limits.

Rooted in access, affordability, and opportunity, Berea’s Financial Freedom Pledge is our bold and unmatched financial aid framework that funds 100% of tuition, housing, food, and fees without loans.

Berea’s Financial Freedom Pledge

A Legacy of Bold Ideas

We are the oldest continuously tuition-free college in the country—and we are ready to build on this bold legacy.

  1. 1892

    In 1892, Berea College stopped charging tuition, ensuring that our students would not be held back from their educational dreams by educational costs.

  2. 2027

    Beginning in Fall 2027, Berea will take this commitment even further by becoming the first college in the country to provide every enrolled student with a fully funded, no-loan degree.

At Berea, talent—not income—determines opportunity.

Draper Building on the Berea College campus
Our groundbreaking proposition

Built on four core ideas

100%

Fully Funded Degree

Berea funds tuition, housing, food, and fees.

100%

Full Scholarship Package

Berea’s own funding, federal and state grants, and other scholarships combine to cover your cost of attendance without loans.

100%

of Students Through Graduation

If we admit you, we fully fund you—for all four years.

100%

Financial Freedom

The greatest value isn’t what you save—it’s what you’re free to become.

A New Financial Aid Economics

Over four years, Berea’s Financial Freedom Pledge provides every student with a fully funded degree. Our comprehensive, no-loan financial aid package combines Berea funding with federal and state grants, personal scholarships, and other awards to eliminate the cost of attendance.

Berea also fully funds what we call our Premier Perks, including

  • A laptop
  • A summer internship
  • Professional clothing
  • Conference attendance
  • And much more

Our goal is to open the door to endless possibilities.

Premier Perks
“At Berea, higher education is not about economics—it is about experiences. It is not about term bills—it is about transformation. It is not about costs—it is about community. It is about our enduring commitment to every student and the future they imagine for themselves.”
—Dr. Cheryl Nixon, President, Berea College
Dr. Cheryl Nixon, Berea College President

An Exchange of Gifts

Every student arrives at Berea with gifts: talent, curiosity, determination, creativity, a desire to serve, and a dream for what comes next. Our commitment is simple: when students bring us their gifts, Berea invests in their potential. The real value isn’t measured in what students save. It’s measured in the freedom they’ll have to dream, explore, and become.

We call this Financial Freedom.

We don’t want your tuition, we want your transformation.

We don’t want your debt, we want your determination.

You are Free to Dream, Driven to Do.

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