The New England Conservatory of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 393 students (a very small, intimate 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
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value1
Affordability2
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 41.1%, The New England Conservatory of Music is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
41.1%
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 The New England Conservatory of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The New England Conservatory 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 $46,754 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$46,754
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
7%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
23%
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
$60,750
Room & Board (on-campus)
$20,010
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,101
Books & Supplies
$500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,940
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,940
Total Cost of Attendance
$81,277
Application fee: $125 (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
$47,882
$30,001 – $48,000
$44,882
$48,001 – $75,000
$45,625
$75,001 – $110,000
$45,608
Over $110,000
$47,387
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.
$5,75010%percentile
$15,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$35,00075%percentile
$37,50090%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 $21,625
↓ $5,375
No Pell $19,500
↓ $7,500
Female students $22,625
↓ $4,375
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,950, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
76% of full-time students who enrolled at The New England Conservatory of Music graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
76%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered The New England Conservatory of Music earn a median of $34,483 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,483
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$37,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,900, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$0.7 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
The New England Conservatory of Music is home to 393 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
393
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 43.3%170
White 32.8%129
Asian 9.2%36
Hispanic 6.1%24
Other 6.1%24
Black 1.5%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The New England Conservatory of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBoston, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential256 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
The New England Conservatory of Music offers
a focused set of programs:
4 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at The New England Conservatory of Music is 5:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
5:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$233M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,500
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
125 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
125
100%
$65,500
Pros & Cons of The New England Conservatory of Music
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The New England Conservatory of Music tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Best for:
Based on the data, The New England Conservatory of Music is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about The New England Conservatory of Music
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The New England Conservatory of Music.
Is The New England Conservatory of Music hard to get into?
The New England Conservatory of Music is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 41.1%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at The New England Conservatory of Music?
The New England Conservatory of Music has an acceptance rate of 41.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does The New England Conservatory of Music cost?
The average net price after aid at The New England Conservatory of Music is $46,754 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The New England Conservatory of Music worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,483 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $46,754 per year. That's roughly 0.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The New England Conservatory of Music known for?
The New England Conservatory of Music is best known for its programs in Music, Music, Music. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The New England Conservatory of Music graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The New England Conservatory of Music are $34,483, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The New England Conservatory of Music accredited?
Yes. The New England Conservatory of Music is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend The New England Conservatory of Music?
The New England Conservatory of Music enrolls 393 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at The New England Conservatory of Music?
The New England Conservatory of Music graduates 76% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is The New England Conservatory of Music a public or private college?
The New England Conservatory of Music is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is The New England Conservatory of Music located?
The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What programs does The New England Conservatory of Music offer?
The New England Conservatory of Music offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Music, Music.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The New England Conservatory of Music?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The New England Conservatory of Music is 5:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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