Berea College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Berea, Kentucky · Private nonprofit · Highly selective
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Berea College is a private nonprofit university in Berea, Kentucky that admits about 19% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $6,106 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 7.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Berea College is a private institution located in Berea, Kentucky and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Berea College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 19%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1249 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $6,106 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Berea College?
Most admitted students at Berea College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
SAT and ACT scores Berea College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 568–655, with an EBRW midpoint near 598. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–28. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
How much does Berea College actually cost?
Published tuition is $51,658 for in-state students and $51,658 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $8,208 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $6,106 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 84% of students receive Pell Grants.
Most popular majors at Berea College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Berea College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Biology, General. Across all programs, Berea College confers roughly 150 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $76,879 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 24 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 22 | $76,879 |
| Biology, General | 21 | $51,489 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 19 | — |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 17 | $52,848 |
| Psychology, General | 17 | $36,407 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 15 | $45,220 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 15 | — |
Is Berea College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Berea College disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Common questions parents ask about Berea College
What GPA do I need for Berea College?
Most admitted students at Berea College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Berea College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 568–655, with an EBRW midpoint near 598. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–28.
How much does Berea College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Berea College after grants and scholarships is $6,106 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $51,658. Budget against the net figure.
Is Berea College realistic for my child?
Berea College admits 19% of applicants, so 568–655 SAT Math is target range and below 568 is a reach. Then check the $6,106 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Berea College?
Berea College accepts about 19% of applicants. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Berea College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Berea College is a private nonprofit institution located in Berea, Kentucky.
What are the most popular majors at Berea College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Berea College by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Biology, General. The school awards about 150 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Berea College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Berea College reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 7.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers