Everyone deserves to have access to higher education. That is why Berea College has implemented a system that grants every student entering its doors a Tuition Promise Scholarship which along with other scholarships and student need covers tuition in full.
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The college is the only top college in the United States following this model. Through a $1 billion endowment and ongoing donations from the college’s alumni, Berea is able to award every student tuition and often additional funds to help students with meals, housing and other fees. “Simply put, students at Berea College pay what they can afford,” reads the explanation on Berea’s website.
As part of the program, all students are required to work at least 10 hours a week on Berea’s beautiful campus in one of more than 140 departments.
Student jobs include everything from cooking to farm work, and textile making to computer programming. The work is in line with the college’s mission which is to provide a high caliber liberal arts education for students from low-income households and to promote the acquirement of new skills.
Student jobs include everything from cooking to farm work, and textile making to computer programming. The work is in line with the college’s mission which is to provide a high caliber liberal arts education for students from low-income households and to promote the acquirement of new skills.
The college is one of six work study colleges in the nation. Alice Lloyd College, Ecclesia College, Sterling College, Blackburn College, Warren Wilson College and of course Berea College offer students opportunities to learn new skills that will be helpful to them in the workforce upon graduation.
Many students will still have to take out a minimal amount of loans, but their debt overall will be less than $10,000.This is considerably lower than the national average, which can be between $20,000 to $30,000.
“I see more job opportunities, opportunities to get out of our social class,” explains one student to Al Jazeera. “If it wasn’t for Berea, I wouldn’t be able to afford college,” explains another.
Admission into the college is open to anyone, but it is competitive. Students have to be sharp, have good grades and have financial need to be accepted. Once students are admitted, they are supported, not only monetarily, but via community, as well. The Berea Facebook page illustrates a college campus that fosters community with many ongoing student recognitions and activities such as sports and rallies.
Berea College was founded in 1855 by Reverend John G. Fee, a scholar and advocate for equal education for all. His school was the first to accept men and women of all races and still has a strong focus on diversity today.
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