Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Berea College graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $35,676 six years after enrollment to $39,459 at eight years and $43,150 at ten years, representing 20.9% growth between the six-year and ten-year marks.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $3,591 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Median student debt at Berea College is just $3,591, compared to a peer median of $25,000, representing a $21,409 difference in favor of Berea students. Debt ranges from $2,268 at the 25th percentile to $8,279 at the 75th percentile, indicating even high-borrowing students graduate with manageable debt loads.
Berea College achieves typical return performance at the 49.6th percentile, reflecting balanced outcomes relative to educational investment costs. Graduates earn $8,185 beyond expectations compared to similar students, ranking at the 82.2nd percentile for value creation and indicating the institution adds significant value relative to its student population.
Approximately 15% of Berea College graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating most students enter the workforce directly after c...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Artificial Intelligence leads Berea College's earnings outcomes with median earnings of $65,907, significantly outperforming the institution's overall median and demonstrating strong market demand for technical skills. Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $37,291, representing solid middle-ground outcomes for creative and communications careers.
Biology graduates earn $29,333, reflecting the field's emphasis on graduate school preparation and service-oriented career paths rather than immediate high earnings. This program diversity supports different student goals, from maximizing earnings potential to pursuing mission-driven careers, while all benefit from Berea College's exceptional affordability model that minimizes debt burden regardless of program choice.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Berea College spans from $26,672 at the 25th percentile to $63,165 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.4:1 ratio between high and low earners. This spread reflects program diversity and career path variation, with technical programs like Artificial Intelligence driving higher outcomes while programs like Biology serve different career trajectories.
