Berea College, a small institution in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky, has been named the best college in the United States by Washington Monthly. Out of more than 1,400 institutions analyzed, Berea earned the top spot in the magazine’s 2025 ranking of the Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.
Focus on Access and Affordability
Unlike traditional rankings that reward wealth and exclusivity, Washington Monthly emphasizes how colleges serve students of limited means. Berea excels: 96 percent of its students qualify for Pell Grants, and most pay little to nothing for tuition. On average, annual costs come to just $3,395 after aid.
Outperforming Expectations
According to Washington Monthly, Berea’s students thrive in every measurable category. Graduation rates surpass national expectations, debt levels remain extremely low, and alumni earnings demonstrate strong returns. “There’s simply no school that does as well by non-wealthy students as Berea College,” the magazine concluded.
A 170-Year Legacy
Berea College is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year. Founded as the first racially integrated, co-educational college in the South, it has remained true to its mission of equal access to higher education. The college is also known for its tuition-free work program, where students contribute 10 hours per week in campus jobs.
Leadership Reaction
In a news release, Berea President Cheryl Nixon called the recognition “a powerful affirmation of Berea’s founding mission.” She added:
“At Berea, we believe every student deserves the chance to learn, serve, and lead without the burden of crushing debt. This ranking celebrates the transformative impact of our students and alumni.”
National Attention for Campus and Community
Beyond academics, Berea frequently earns praise for its scenic campus. Located in Kentucky’s folk arts and crafts capital, the college recently attracted the spotlight of an Amazon Prime series and was highlighted by Smithsonian Magazine as a top travel destination for 2025.
Rethinking “Best Colleges”
Washington Monthly stresses that its rankings seek to counter the widespread notion that exclusivity equals excellence. “That leaves the vast majority of prospective students—whose SAT scores and family income aren’t in the upper 1%—to navigate one of the most consequential decisions of their lives armed with a skewed picture,” the magazine wrote.
Methodology and Measures
For the first time, the 2025 rankings combined more than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities into a single list. Schools were evaluated on four equally weighted categories:
- Access (number and performance of Pell Grant recipients)
- Affordability (net price and graduate debt levels)
- Outcomes (graduation rates and alumni success)
- Community and National Service (contributions to public good)
Top-ranked institutions needed to excel across all four measures, not just one.
The Top 25 Colleges of 2025
The magazine’s 2025 list demonstrates a diverse mix of public, private, and regional schools:
- Berea College
- California State University, Fresno
- Princeton University
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- University of Central Florida
- Williams College
- Brigham Young University
- Pomona College
- Arizona State University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of California, Berkeley
- Boricua College
- Northeastern State University
- Metropolitan State University
- CUNY Lehman College
- Towson University
- SUNY Geneseo
- Rutgers University–Camden
- Appalachian State University
- Mississippi University for Women
- Evergreen State College
- Bluefield State University
- Elizabeth City State University
A Model for the Nation
For Nixon and Berea’s community, the ranking underscores the possibility of delivering education that is both excellent and accessible. “Higher education can be inspirational and affordable,” she said. “This recognition affirms Berea’s role as a national model for how colleges can serve the public good.”
