Berklee College of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 7,468 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes76
Value0
Affordability6
Selectivity87
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 43.5%, Berklee College of Music is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
43.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Berklee College of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Berklee College of Music isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $49,465 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$49,465
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$52,040
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,930
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,830
Books & Supplies
$1,085
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,623
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,475
Total Cost of Attendance
$72,700
Application fee: $150 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$42,734
$30,001 – $48,000
$37,987
$48,001 – $75,000
$47,799
$75,001 – $110,000
$46,801
Over $110,000
$54,676
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,16610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$25,95075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,626
↓ $7,374
No Pell $13,750
↓ $11,250
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $10,000
Independent students $17,501
↓ $7,499
Female students $15,833
↓ $9,167
Male students $15,250
↓ $9,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Berklee College of Music graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Berklee College of Music earn a median of $33,647 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,647
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Berklee College of Music is home to 7,468 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,468
Part-Time
20%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 37.1%2,770
International 31.9%2,379
Hispanic 12.8%954
Black 6.2%459
Asian 5.7%426
Other 4.8%360
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Berklee College of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBoston, Massachusetts
Housing
Partly residential1,519 beds available
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Berklee College of Music offers
a varied set of programs:
18 distinct programs across
5 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Berklee College of Music is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$492M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,155
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
374 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
170
45%
$106,398
Associate Professors
141
38%
$88,038
Assistant Professors
60
16%
$81,300
Instructors
3
1%
$69,654
Pros & Cons of Berklee College of Music
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Berklee College of Music tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Frequently Asked Questions about Berklee College of Music
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Berklee College of Music.
Is Berklee College of Music hard to get into?
Berklee College of Music is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 43.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music has an acceptance rate of 43.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Berklee College of Music cost?
The average net price after aid at Berklee College of Music is $49,465 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Berklee College of Music worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,647 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $49,465 per year. That's roughly 0.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Berklee College of Music known for?
Berklee College of Music is best known for its programs in Music, Computer Software & Media, Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Berklee College of Music graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Berklee College of Music are $33,647, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Berklee College of Music accredited?
Yes. Berklee College of Music is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music enrolls 7,468 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Berklee College of Music a public or private college?
Berklee College of Music is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Berklee College of Music located?
Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What programs does Berklee College of Music offer?
Berklee College of Music offers 18 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Computer Software & Media, Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Berklee College of Music?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Berklee College of Music is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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