Berea College
Berea College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Berea College at a Glance
Berea College is a private liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1855, it was the first college in the Southern United States to be coeducational and racially integrated. It admitted non-White students from as early as 1866 until 1904, and again after 1954.
1855
171 years old
$1.8B
$1.83 billion (2025)
1,454
139
140 acres
Identity
Is Berea College Worth It?
Berea College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $6,106/year net price and $43,150 median earnings, graduates earn 7.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 60% graduation rate means roughly 40% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Admission is competitive with a 19% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $3,591 is manageable at just 8% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Berea College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Berea College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 24 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Berea College | 100 | $6,106 | $43,150 |
| #2 | Bob Jones University | 45 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| #3 | Heritage University | 39 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| #4 | Mary Baldwin University | 37 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| #5 | Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | 37 | $10,566 | $40,694 |
| #6 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 33 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Berea College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in KY.
Best Programs at Berea College
The highest-earning program at Berea College is Business/Commerce, General at $33,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $17,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Business/Commerce, General graduate from Berea College earns $33,500, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $17,000. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,106/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | $33,500 | $33,500 | $3,756 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,000 | $25,000 | N/A |
| Engineering Technology, General | $23,900 | $23,900 | N/A |
| Education, General | $20,900 | $20,900 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $19,000 | $19,000 | N/A |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $18,100 | $18,100 | $4,748 |
| Agriculture, General | $17,200 | $17,200 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature, General | $17,000 | $17,000 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in KY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Berea, KY
- Student Body
- 1,513 students
- Admission Rate
- 19%
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,106
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,150
- Median Student Debt
- $3,591