Photo: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0Berea is home to Berea College
Berea College (1,487 students on campus) is inside the city. About 15% of Berea’s residents are enrolled in college, above Kentucky (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Berea. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Berea
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Berea
One private college within 1.2 miles, and one public college within 10.5 miles.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Berea’s median household income ($59,495) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Berea: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
What students study in Berea
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Berea College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Berea
Is Berea a college town?
No. About 15 of every 100 Berea residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Kentucky (6). The largest campus in the city, Berea College, has 1,487 students on campus.
What colleges are in Berea?
Berea College is inside the city. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is 34.5 miles away in Lexington.
What is the closest community college to Berea, and what does it cost?
Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, 34.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,808 a year for Kentucky residents; the federal net price, $6,113, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Eastern Kentucky University cost if we live in Kentucky?
Tuition and fees are $10,320 a year in-state and $21,230 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,591 (under $30,000 income) to $17,009 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Berea. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →