That’s right–full tuition, thanks to Berea’s $715 million endowment. That’s a powerful lure for the 1,500 students, who come from families with an average income of $30,000. They do have to pay for room and board (scholarships are available). Berea also requires students to spend 140 hours a semester doing everything from cleaning to running the computer center.
President Larry Shinn says he’s moved by students’ life stories before and after Berea. He says many become doctors, nurses or social workers in Appalachia. “Our students understand that many people are giving of themselves to make their education possible,” he says. “They leave knowing that they will give back.”
