dᵻspˈaɪt bˌiːɪŋ tˈoʊld ðæt ʃiː ʃˌʊd ɡˈɪv ˌʌp ˌɔn ɐtˈɛndɪŋ kˈɑːlɪdʒ, bˈɛɹi ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd wɪð ɐ bˈiː.ˈeɪ. dᵻɡɹˈiː, mˈæɡnə kʊmlˈaʊdi, fɹʌm dʒˈæksənvˌɪl jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪn flˈɔːɹɪdə ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː.
Despite being told that she should give up on attending college, Berry graduated with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Jacksonville University in Florida in 1982.