Berea College Again Ranks # 1 in Washington Monthly

BEREA, Ky. (WTVQ / Press release) – Washington Monthly again ranked Berea College # 1 Best Bang for Buck College in the South in their 2021 College Guide and Ranking.

Washington Monthly rankings are based on “the degree to which they recruit and graduate students of modest means, produce the scholarship and academics that stimulate economic growth and human fulfillment, and encourage students to be active citizens and to serve their country” .

“One of Berea’s great commitments is to provide educational opportunities for students with great promise and limited economic resources, and being ranked # 1 Best Bang for Buck College in the South reflects this commitment,” said the President of Berea College, Lyle Roelofs. “We are honored to maintain the top spot with a publication that aligns its ranking with the mission of Berea College.”

In the 2021 college ranking guide, Washington Monthly Author Robert Kelchen acknowledges Berea College for maintaining “consistently high rankings through its economic diversity, relatively high graduation rates, and commitment to meeting the financial needs of students.”

Berea’s mission is to provide low-income students with high quality liberal arts education. About 90 percent of Berea’s students receive Federal Pell Scholarships, and the annual income of student families is approximately $ 29,000. Nationally, graduation rates for students in this demographic are only found in the middle of adolescence. In contrast, around two-thirds of Berea’s students graduate on time, and many of them earn a doctorate. and other higher degrees.

The Washington Monthly The College’s guide and rankings can be viewed online at: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021college-guide.

Berea College, the South’s premier interracial and coeducational college, focuses on learning, hard work, and service. The College only admits academically promising students with limited financial resources, primarily from Kentucky and the Appalachians, although students come from 40 states and 70 countries. Every Berea student receives a Tuition Promise Scholarship, which means that no Berea student pays their tuition fees.

Berea is one of the eight work colleges recognized by the federal government. Students therefore work 10 or more hours per week, earning money for books, accommodation and meals.