Students interacting with one another on stairs

Financial Eligibility

Future Without Limits

The financial eligibility requirement is unique to Berea College and is a direct response to the College’s commitment to serve students of unlimited potential and limited financial means. This requires the Office of Admissions to assess an applicant’s financial eligibility. Estimating your financial eligibility to attend Berea College is an important first step in determining if you qualify.

We’re a household of with an adjusted gross income of.

Your household is within Berea’s primary financial eligibility range.

That’s $6,000 below the end of Berea’s primary range for a household of 4.

Policy context

Eligibility landscape

Family size changes Berea’s income thresholds. This landscape shows policy ranges and your household’s position—not how many families occupy each area.

Financial eligibility policy landscape by family size — Green gradientFamily size appears on the horizontal axis and adjusted gross income on the vertical axis. Thin lines separate Berea’s primary range, extended consideration, and outside typical range. The shapes encode policy thresholds only, not people or applicant distribution. Your household is shown at family size 4 and $50,000 income.$0$50k$100k$150k$200k12345678910Your householdFamily sizeAdjusted gross income

The two filled bands are the in-range policy categories, deepest for the primary range; the open field above them is outside the typical range. Region area shows threshold shape, not the number of households in that range.

Berea’s primary range
Extended consideration
Outside typical range

2025-2026

All income ranges
Parent typeHousehold sizeBerea’s primary rangeExtended considerationOutside typical range
Single Parent1Under $34,000$34,000 – $48,000$48,000 and above
Single Parent2Under $46,000$46,000 – $66,000$66,000 and above
Single Parent3Under $58,000$58,000 – $84,000$84,000 and above
Single Parent4Under $72,000$72,000 – $102,000$102,000 and above
Single Parent5Under $84,000$84,000 – $120,000$120,000 and above
Single Parent6Under $96,000$96,000 – $138,000$138,000 and above
Single Parent7Under $108,000$108,000 – $156,000$156,000 and above
Single Parent8Under $120,000$120,000 – $172,000$172,000 and above
Single Parent9Under $134,000$134,000 – $190,000$190,000 and above
Single Parent10 or moreUnder $146,000$146,000 – $208,000$208,000 and above
Two Parent1Under $26,000$26,000 – $40,000$40,000 and above
Two Parent2Under $36,000$36,000 – $56,000$56,000 and above
Two Parent3Under $46,000$46,000 – $70,000$70,000 and above
Two Parent4Under $56,000$56,000 – $86,000$86,000 and above
Two Parent5Under $64,000$64,000 – $100,000$100,000 and above
Two Parent6Under $74,000$74,000 – $116,000$116,000 and above
Two Parent7Under $84,000$84,000 – $130,000$130,000 and above
Two Parent8Under $94,000$94,000 – $146,000$146,000 and above
Two Parent9Under $104,000$104,000 – $162,000$162,000 and above
Two Parent10 or moreUnder $114,000$114,000 – $176,000$176,000 and above

Household Income

Family SizeSingle Parent Total Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)Two Parent Total Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)*
2Less than $48,000Less than $38,000
3Less than $60,000Less than $48,000
4Less than $74,000Less than $58,000
5Less than $86,000Less than $66,000
6Less than $98,000Less than $76,000
7Less than $110,000Less than $86,000
8Less than $122,000Less than $96,000

*Stepparent income MUST be included

Independent Student

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you are considered an independent student and will likely meet Berea’s financial eligibility criteria.

Are you now or have you ever been in a legal guardianship (as determined by a court) with someone other than a parent or stepparent?
At any time on or after July 1, 2026, have you been on your own and homeless OR Self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
At any time since you turned 13, have you been an orphan, a ward of the court, or in foster care?
Are you a legally emancipated minor (as determined by a court)?
Do you have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you and will be receiving more than half their support from you between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027?
Are you currently serving on active duty or are you a veteran of the US armed forces?

*The above numbers are based on 2025 poverty guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services. 2025 AGI information will be reported on the 2027-2028 FAFSA. Amounts are updated annually.

Many factors are considered when determining a student’s financial eligibility, primarily using the FAFSA, but in some cases, a student may be required to submit a Non-Custodial Financial Questionnaire, Self-Employed/Business Owner Questionnaire, or additional documentation to ultimately determine an applicant’s financial eligibility.

Please note, determining financial eligibility is an assessment within the Office of Admissions, and determining financial aid offers is a function of Student Financial Aid Services. However, information provided during the admissions process may be used to guide professional judgements, resolve conflicting information and finalize financial aid offers if admitted.

Quick FAQs

Many factors are considered when determining a student’s financial eligibility, primarily using the FAFSA, but in some cases, a student may be required to submit a Non-Custodial Financial Questionnaire, Self-Employed/Business Owner Questionnaire, or additional documentation to ultimately determine an applicant’s financial eligibility.

Please note, determining financial eligibility is an assessment within the Office of Admissions, and determining financial aid offers is a function of Student Financial Aid Services. However, information provided during the admissions process may be used to guide professional judgements, resolve conflicting information and finalize financial aid offers if admitted.