Students build friendships, expand their social horizons, and increase their understanding of themselves and others. To benefit fully from Berea's curricular and co-curricular programs, students whose homes are not in the Berea community are expected to live in College residence halls and eat in the College's dining facilities. Because Berea values the learning that comes from daily living with those different from oneself, room assignments for first-year students may be changed only with special approval. Each spring, continuing students make their own choices of rooms and roommates through a lottery system. Berea students are offered a variety of living spaces within the College's 16 residence halls, many of which are undergoing renovation through an ambitious renovation program whose intent is to modernize campus facilities while retaining their distinctive character.
Halls vary in architecture, size, room arrangement, atmosphere, and tradition.
Several special houses for selected upper-class students exist, in addition to a limited number of family housing apartments for student families. Berea makes it a point to tie social and cultural activities to the academic program. The College sponsors 47 clubs and organizations though which students learn such valuable skills as how to lead, how to manage time and budgets, and how to work collaboratively. Because campus facilities and the adjoining town are within comfortable walking distance, there is little need for students to use a car. For this reason, and in recognition of the benefits of a residential education, only seniors are permitted to have cars on campus except in special circumstances.