Berklee College of Music Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Berklee College of Music is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, serving roughly 7,468 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 43.53% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $33,647 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $52,040
- 2024 Average Net Price: $49,465 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 43.53% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,468 80.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 67.31%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 21.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 34.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,701
- Applicants (IPEDS): 7,167
- Room & Board: $19,930 annual estimate
Berklee College of Music: what the data shows
Common questions about Berklee College of Music, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (ZIP 02215).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Berklee College of Music public or private?
Berklee College of Music is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Berklee College of Music cost?
Published tuition: $52,040.
Average net price after aid: $49,465.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $42,734 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $37,987 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $47,799 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $46,801 |
| $110,001+ | $54,676 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $208,160.
How hard is it to get into Berklee College of Music?
Admission rate: 43.53%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Berklee College of Music?
Total enrollment: 7,468 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,701 students.
Graduate enrollment: 820 students.
About 80% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Berklee College of Music?
150%-time completion rate: 67.31%.
First-year retention: 88.6%.
What do graduates of Berklee College of Music earn?
Median earnings: $26,462 six years after entry; $33,647 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
16.18% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Berklee College of Music known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Computer Software and Media Applications, Other (485 completions)
- Music Performance, General (325 completions)
- Music, Other (285 completions)
- Music Management (281 completions)
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (274 completions)
- Music Theory and Composition (271 completions)
- Musical Theatre (57 completions)
- Music Teacher Education (33 completions)
- Music Therapy/Therapist (31 completions)
- Dance, General (28 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Berklee College of Music a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 43.53%; completion rate 67.31%; median earnings $33,647 at 10 years; net price $49,465. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$52,040
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Berklee College of Music was $52,040.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$49,465
2024 Value
In 2024 Berklee College of Music had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $49,465.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$197,860 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$49,465 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$208,160 4-Year Tuition
$19,930 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,085 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$73,055 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$292,220 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Berklee College of Music.
Financial Aid by Income Level
16.18% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
33.92% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Berklee College of Music was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Berklee College of Music in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $37,586 | $37,586 | $43,018 |
| 2014 | $38,910 | $38,910 | $46,351 |
| 2015 | $40,082 | $40,082 | $48,310 |
| 2016 | $41,398 | $41,398 | $45,107 |
| 2017 | $42,750 | $42,750 | $47,270 |
| 2018 | $44,140 | $44,140 | $48,425 |
| 2019 | $45,660 | $45,660 | $49,514 |
| 2020 | $45,660 | $45,660 | $46,805 |
| 2021 | $46,800 | $46,800 | $45,467 |
| 2022 | $48,330 | $48,330 | $49,230 |
| 2023 | $50,270 | $50,270 | $50,404 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
43.53% Acceptance Rate
7,167 Total Applicants
3,577 Students Admitted
1,502 First-Time Students Enrolled
41.99% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Berklee College of Music reported total enrollment of about 7,468 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 55% male and 45% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (37.1%), Non-Resident Alien (31.9%), and Hispanic or Latino (12.8%). About 16.18% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 21.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Berklee College of Music in 2024 is 7,468 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,701 students. Graduate enrollment is about 820 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
88.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 37.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
50.27% 100% Completion Time
67.31% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 50.27% of students graduating from Berklee College of Music completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer Software and Media Applications, Other: 68% male / 32% female
- Music Performance, General: 64% male / 36% female
- Music, Other: 47% male / 53% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Berklee College of Music.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$33,647 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
74.30% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
70.05% Return on Investment
7.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Berklee College of Music.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 14 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Computer Software and Media Applications, Other: 485 completions
2. Music Performance, General: 325 completions
3. Music, Other: 285 completions
4. Music Management: 281 completions
5. Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other: 274 completions
6. Music Theory and Composition: 271 completions
7. Musical Theatre: 57 completions
8. Music Teacher Education: 33 completions
9. Music Therapy/Therapist: 31 completions
Most popular programs at Berklee College of Music.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Berklee College of Music graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Berklee College of Music from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 34.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,837
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $20,700
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Berklee College of Music is a private non-profit institution located in Boston, MA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Software and Media Applications, Other, Music Performance, General, Music, Other. Enrollment is approximately 7,468 students. Student body composition includes White (37.1%), Non-Resident Alien (31.9%), Hispanic or Latino (12.8%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 43.53%. The 150%-time completion rate is 67.31%. Approximately 16.18% of students receive Pell Grants. About 21.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Boston, MA 02215
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Berklee College of Music provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Berklee College of Music located?
Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA.
What is Berklee College of Music's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Berklee College of Music is 43.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 7,167 applicants and 3,577 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Berklee College of Music cost?
Reported tuition is $52,040 and average net price is $49,465 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,930 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,701 students, White (37.1%), Non-Resident Alien (31.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Berklee College of Music?
About 21.2% of students at Berklee College of Music are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Berklee College of Music earn?
Median earnings are $26,462 six years after entry and $33,647 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Berklee College of Music?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Berklee College of Music students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Berklee College of Music public or private?
Berklee College of Music is a private nonprofit institution located in Boston, MA.
Is Berklee College of Music an HBCU?
No. Berklee College of Music is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Berklee College of Music a tribal college?
No. Berklee College of Music is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Berklee College of Music a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Berklee College of Music does not meet that proxy (reported share 12.8%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Massachusetts college costs
- Massachusetts colleges by ROI
- Boston, Massachusetts city profile
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Massachusetts
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.