Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 80/100

Curtis Institute of Music

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

About Curtis Institute of Music

Thinking about Curtis Institute of Music, a college in Pennsylvania where more students graduate in Visual & Performing Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Curtis Institute of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 109 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
4.6%
Graduation
—
Net Price
—
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
109
Student : Faculty
2:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
80/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 99
Value —
Affordability 1
Selectivity 99

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Curtis Institute of Music admits 4.6% of applicants, which makes it a reach for almost everyone, so treat it as one option among several.

Acceptance Rate
4.6%
Highly Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants 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 Curtis Institute of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 3.0 pts since 2019
3.9%20192.4%20204.8%20219.7%20227%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. Curtis Institute of Music has not reported one, so ask the financial aid office for a written estimate before comparing it against anywhere else.

Average Net Price
—
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
1%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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
$0
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,035
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,000
Books & Supplies
$4,530
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,892
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,782

Application fee: $150 (one-time, due at submission)

What this means: Only 1% of students at Curtis Institute of Music receive Pell grants. Most enrolled families don't qualify for need-based federal aid.

Graduation Rate & Retention

98% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
98%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Curtis Institute of Music has not reported graduate earnings. Where that figure is missing, the programs section below is the better guide, since pay follows the field you study more closely than the college you attend.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
—
Earning > $25K
—
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$30,000$33,000$36,000$39,000$42,0006 yrs8 yrs

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 109 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
109
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
International 45.9% 50
White 26.6% 29
Asian 13.8% 15
Other 9.2% 10
Hispanic 2.8% 3
Black 1.8% 2
International: 45.9% (50 students)White: 26.6% (29 students)Asian: 13.8% (15 students)Other: 9.2% (10 students)Hispanic: 2.8% (3 students)Black: 1.8% (2 students)Total109

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Curtis Institute of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential 102 beds for 109 students
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Curtis Institute of Music offers a focused set of programs: 3 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

3 Programs
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

Faculty & Resources

There are 2 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
2:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$366M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,809
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

34 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank 34 100% $76,809

Pros & Cons of Curtis Institute of Music

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Curtis Institute of Music is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Highly selective, strong peer cohort
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
  • Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for: Based on the data, Curtis Institute of Music is a fit for students seeking a highly selective peer group; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Curtis Institute of Music

The questions families ask most about Curtis Institute of Music, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Curtis Institute of Music hard to get into?
Yes. Curtis Institute of Music is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 4.6%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.
What is the acceptance rate at Curtis Institute of Music?
4.6% of applicants are admitted. Roughly one applicant in ten gets in, so apply only alongside options you are more likely to win. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Curtis Institute of Music known for?
Mostly Music, Music, Music. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Curtis Institute of Music accredited?
Yes. Curtis Institute of Music is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Curtis Institute of Music?
109 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Curtis Institute of Music a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Curtis Institute of Music located?
Curtis Institute of Music is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Curtis Institute of Music offer?
3 different programs, most commonly Music, Music, Music. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Curtis Institute of Music?
2 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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