Berea College
Berea, Kentucky · Private · 1,513 undergraduates · berea.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
19%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1156 to 1335
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$74,120Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Berea College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
19% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$74,120
a year in 2027-28, from a $74,120 sticker price
What to do with your 1250
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1250).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: Test-Optional Admissions - Berea College · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov30Other deadline · November 30, 2026
- Jan31Early Action · January 31, 2027Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Mar31Regular Decision · March 31, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
19%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1156 to 1335
Reading and Writing 588 to 680
Math 568 to 655
ACT composite 23 to 28
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$74,120
a year
- Tuition$60,010
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$5,373
- $30,001 to $48,000$5,085
- $48,001 to $75,000$6,084
- $75,001 to $110,000$8,610
- Over $110,000$11,521
Financial aidEstimate
97%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$54,830
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Kentucky programs for residents
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
State program · In-state students
$36/year bonus (added to base award)
- 2.75+ GPA, 830+ SAT or 15+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 15 / SAT 830-870; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 880+ SAT or 16+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 16 / SAT 880-910; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 920+ SAT or 17+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 17 / SAT 920-950; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 960+ SAT or 18+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 18 / SAT 960-980; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 19 / SAT 990-1020; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1030+ SAT or 20+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 20 / SAT 1030-1050; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 21 / SAT 1060-1090; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1100+ SAT or 22+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 22 / SAT 1100-1120; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1130+ SAT or 23+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 23 / SAT 1130-1150; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1160+ SAT or 24+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 24 / SAT 1160-1190; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 25 / SAT 1200-1220; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1230+ SAT or 26+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 26 / SAT 1230-1250; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1260+ SAT or 27+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 27 / SAT 1260-1290; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, 1300+ SAT or 28+ ACT, ACT/SAT bonus: ACT 28+ / SAT 1300-1600; 2.75 GPA in any HS year while meeting KEES curriculum requirements; graduate of certified KY high school, from Kentucky
- 2.75+ GPA, Base award (GPA only; no test component); Graduate of certified KY high school; meet KEES curriculum requirements; not a convicted felon, from Kentucky
- 830+ SAT or 15+ ACT, Homeschool / non-certified school / KY GED graduates (test-only award); KY homeschool or non-certified school graduate, or KY GED earned between ages 18 and 23
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 36
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,000Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 | ART 103X |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 | ART 102X |
| Art History | 4 | 1 | ARH 124 |
| Biology | 4 | 1 | BIO 100 |
| Biology | 5 | 0 | BIO 110 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 1 | MAT 135 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 1 | MAT 225 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 1 | CHM 101 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | CHI 101 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 1 | PSC 100X |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 1 | CSC 100X |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 1 | CSC 101X |
| Drawing | 4 | 1 | ART 115 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 1 | ENG 100X |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 1 | ENG 101X |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 1 | SENS 100 |
| European History | 4 | 1 | HIS 102X |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | FRN 101 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | GER 101 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 1 | GST 100X |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | GST 1XX |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | JPN 101 |
| Latin | 4 | 1 | LAT 101 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 1 | ECO 101 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 1 | ECO 102 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 1 | MUS 100X |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 1 | PHY 127 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 1 | PHY 128 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 1 | PHY 100X |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 1 | PHY 101X |
| Psychology | 4 | 1 | PSY 100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 1 | SPN 101 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 1 | SPN 315 |
| Statistics | 4 | 1 | MAT 104 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 1 | PSC 110 |
| United States History | 4 | 1 | HIS 100X |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 1 | HIS 101X |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
66%
Come back for a second year
79%
Typical earnings
$48,071
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Berea College$88,605
- All colleges$98,966
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 9 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Berea College. The Berea College logo is a trademark of the college.