In 1902, Martha Berry, daughter of a prominent local business owner, founded the Boys Industrial School on 83 acres of land inherited from her father.

The free labor provided by the students helped to keep construction and operating costs for the schools low.

[6] Designated portions are open to the public for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources oversees about 16,000 acres of the campus, conducts managed hunts, and provides recreational opportunities.

The land encompassing the academic buildings and other public spaces is a wildlife refuge in which no hunting is allowed.

[citation needed] In September 2011, Travel+Leisure ranked Berry among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, noting its numerous fountains and pools among its English Gothic-style buildings.

[9][independent source needed] Berry College's tuition is $38,430 a year, before any financial aid, grants, or scholarships.

[10] In addition to tuition, students at Berry can expect to pay around $13,620 a year for room and board, which covers the cost of on-campus housing and a meal plan.

[12] Using a Lilly Foundation Grant, the school was called the Early Learning Center in the Westcott Building and taught kindergarten and first grade students.

A year later, the older students were moved from Hamrick Hall to the newly built Cook Building on Main Campus to form their own separate middle school.

[13] A series of reunion events were held for former students, parents, teachers and directors in 2007 for the thirty year anniversary.

[15] The Middle Schoolers were also known for annually producing short films, with the eight graders receiving a "Martha" award for their achievements.

[17] Berry College has been used as a site for the filming of several movies, in addition to music videos by bands such as Casting Crowns.

[19] The Netflix Original Stranger Things filmed parts of its fourth season at the Ford Complex.

[20] The institution's board of trustees chose to shutter the middle and high school academy, and used that campus property to court leadership of Chick Fil-A, a Christian-run business, through its WinShape foundation programs.

Berry competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, equestrian, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

[28][26][27][29] The Berry College Board of Trustees voted to add football beginning in the fall of 2013, with a track and field athletic program to be added soon after.

[30] Due to the financial expense and the traditions of the school, the decision to add football was controversial and met with opposition from a significant portion of the student body, faculty, and alumni.

According to the school newspaper, The Campus Carrier, adding football would not affect issues related to equal sports opportunity under the Title IX regulations.

[32] The stadium was originally intended to be built near the Cage Center, but in 2012 a pair of bald eagles established their nest near the site.