Berry College has dedicated over a century to educated students while providing a well rounded atmosphere where they can learn new skills and develop their existing talents. The dedication of the faculty and staff, as well as seasoned students far exceeds the expectations of any future employer. Students are inspired, encouraged and taught to push the envelope when it comes to their education and life experiences. At Berry College, students are given all of the tools they need both academically and for personal use. The school is highly recognized for its strong dedication the quality and value of a good, structured education. For this reason, Berry College offers students the choice of over 40 majors and minors to help develop the skills they need to become leaders in the work world.
The campus at Berry College offers students a unique structure that is unlike any other. Each student is surrounded by a solid support system consisting of faculty members, staff, fellow students and community activists that all help mold the futures of young pioneers. Berry College actively follows Christian values of civility, education and equality. This enables students to receive more from their education than good grades. The values and experiences conveyed at Berry College are enough to last any student a lifetime of invaluable lessons.
School History
The roots of Berry College were founded and named in honor of Martha Berry in 1902. The school was originally opened as The Boys’ Industrial School, a school for boys in the local community which lacked public school options. It was then thought to be one of the only private schools to offer a solid education to the students, giving them a foundation to build on. The school was created with the intention of providing a strong education to students would help them avoid poverty in their futures. In 1909, a girl’s school was added to the institute, providing the same quality education and Christian focus. During this time, the school had mastered providing students with an education based on academic value, community service and professional preparation.
In 1926, a junior college was added to the Berry education system, which later turned into the senior college now known as Berry College. The school honored its first set of graduates in 1932.
Upon opening, Berry College was established to help students obtain jobs where they would work for 8 hours on a designated day during the week and attend classes the other four days. This ensured that students can afford to attend school and that tuition would not have to be raised. However, upon her death in 1942, the school faced financial troubles due to the lack of contributions and sponsors. By 1955, the school had no choice but to close the school for girls in attempts to keep the original foundation thriving. By the early 1960s, Berry College received accreditation from Southern Association of colleges and Secondary Schools, eliminated the work study program and focused on the liberal arts and professional programs that the school had offered – offering admission to all students from both urban and rural areas.
Campus Life
Berry College focuses on developing an enriching experience for students both in and out of the classroom. For this reason, the school provides an array of outdoor activities for the students such as Outdoor Recreation Program. This enables students to get involved with accelerating and educational outdoor activities both on and off campus that also focuses on safety. Students have their choice in activities such as intramural sports, multicultural affairs and a wide range of student activities that are posted on the calendar for students to plan their week. There is always something to get into on the Berry campus. Since the school is located just outside of Rome, many students often venture off campus to enjoy the city scenes and activities as well.
For those students who live on campus, residence life is just as enriching as social gatherings. The Office of Residential Life is available to students all year round to help them choose the residential halls that best suit their needs. All students are provided furnished housing that includes sufficient work space, sleeping quarters and of course room to breathe. Many students take advantage of the common hall areas located in each complex that offer students the chance to relax by the fire, hand out with friends and study together in a undisturbed manner.
Health and safety of students is a major priority at Berry College, which is why the Health and Wellness Center is available 24/7 and even offers students Flu shots during the winter season. All students can obtain assistance from the center as needed and not have to worry about the cost of treatment. Berry College understands that there is enough stress on students with maintaining grades and work load, which is why they try to help out wherever possible.
Financial Aid
Berry College has been dedicated to providing students with the most high quality and affordable education since they established in 1902. For this reason, the school offers plenty of financial aid resources to help students lighten the load of paying tuition. Berry College offers an outstanding athletic recruiting program that offers partial or full scholarships to honor the athletic talents of students. On an academic level, students are given the chance to apply for merit based scholarships, grants and also loan programs based on their achievements.
The school also accepts both federal and state funded scholarships, loans and grant programs that students qualify for as well. The work study programs offers a wide array of jobs both on and off campus for students to help pay for school and expenses. In fact, there are currently over 300 positions located right on campus for students to take advantage of. The Work Experience program is offered to all students, regardless of financial need.