Berea College beat more than 1,400 other schools in Washington Monthly’s annual ranking of American colleges and universities. The school, which hasn’t charged tuition since 1892, was named the “number one best college for your tuition and tax dollars.” Berea College president Cheryl Nixon says her school offers incredible value.
“Both value in terms of economic value, offering our students a good deal that is low cost, and we're trying to get it to no cost, but also value in terms of our students being able to graduate with a great degree that serves Kentucky,” she said.
In exchange for free tuition, Berea College students are required to work at least 10 hours a week at an on-campus job. Nixon said the “best value” award is a great honor that could help with fundraising.
“We try to work with industry partners. We try to work with foundations to say, ‘Please, if you fund Berea, Berea uses every single penny to give the best deal possible to our students, students mostly from rural Appalachia, that deserve educational opportunity,’” she said.
Nixon said more than 80 percent of Berea’s freshman class is also paying nothing for food, housing and fees.
“They're getting a completely free education. So we're getting there. We want to be that model that is shining a beacon for all of higher ed to say, ‘We can do things differently. We can deliver on free education,’” she said.
