Mountaineer News

Spectrum News 1: Berea College to expand tuition-free model by 2027

Berea College plans to move to a fully funded program model for all students by fall 2027, expanding its tuition-free approach to cover housing and meal plans with no student loans.

KET: Berea College Expands Pledge to Cover All Student Costs

Berea College has been a groundbreaking institution since its founding in 1855 as the first college in the south to be co-educational and racially integrated. In 1892, it stopped charging tuition. Now, it's breaking ground again as the first college in the nation that will cover every cost that comes with being a student. It's called the "Financial Freedom Pledge."

FOX 56 News: Berea College covering full attendance costs, housing fees next fall

Alumni Spotlight: Tyler Burris ’13

As transportation director for Kentucky River Foothills, Tyler Burris '13 oversees public transit across four rural Kentucky counties, ensuring community members have reliable, low-cost access to healthcare, employment, and education. Leveraging his Berea business degree and work program experience, Burris is dedicated to removing vital barriers and serving his Appalachian neighbors.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Doug Drewek

Drewek created the electronic music minor at Berea. “This minor isn’t just for music majors on campus,” he said, “it really is interdisciplinary. It includes classes in communication, music, electronics and computer science coming together to give a broad perspective on the area of electronic music. It gives students the ability to pair their interest in electronic music with other areas of interest.”

Alumni Spotlight: Sean Hall ’25

After winning a regional Emmy before he even graduated, Sean Hall was able to drop the word “aspiring” before the word “filmmaker.” But that kind of success doesn’t happen overnight. Read about Sean’s journey and watch his award-winning piece about the Berea College Crafts program.