The first integrated college in the South refused to charge tuition

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1855, an abolitionist founded a school on the radical premise that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of race or wealth. Today, Berea College continues this legacy by offering every student a fully funded degree—covering everything from housing to meals—while maintaining a mandatory work program.

Berea College was established in 1855 by John Gregg Fee, an ardent abolitionist and graduate of Augusta College. The institution began in a one-room schoolhouse that doubled as a church, situated on land granted by politician Cassius Marcellus Clay. Berea pioneered radical inclusion from the start, becoming the Southern United States' initial college to integrate races and genders simultaneously. By 1866, the student body was nearly evenly split, with 96 Black students and 91 white students enrolled in a fully integrated curriculum.

This commitment to integration faced severe external pressure. In 1859, slavery supporters forced Fee and his teachers out of the area. During the Civil War, Fee spent nearly 18 months at Camp Nelson, where he helped provide facilities for freedmen, including a hospital, barracks, and a school. After the war, Berea resumed its mission, awarding the first bachelor's degrees in 1873. However, the school's status as a racial exception was eventually undermined by state law. Segregation became compulsory at the academy following a 1904 legislative act, initiating legal proceedings within the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of Berea College v. Kentucky. After losing, the college established the Lincoln Institute in 1912 to educate Black students until integration was permitted again in 1950.

Today, Berea operates on a model of 'impartial love,' providing a fully funded educational experience for all students. This includes tuition, housing, meals, and fees, with no loans and no limits. Central to this model is the 'Work to Learn' program, where students work a minimum of 10 hours per week in one of over 130 positions. This structure aims to prepare students for a life of purpose by combining academic rigor with practical skills, serving the broader Appalachian community while welcoming students from over 70 countries.

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