Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1477 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $38,127 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Berklee College of Music in the 1.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1460 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1477 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private music conservatory in Boston, MA, Berklee College of Music enrolls roughly 7,468 undergraduates. Retention is 88.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.3%, reflecting strong student persistence through a specialized, performance-intensive curriculum. Berklee College of Music delivers distinctive outcomes in a field where earnings trajectories differ markedly from traditional four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $38,127 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Berklee College of Music in the 1.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1460 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects what happens when students pursue intensive training in Visual & Performing Arts fields: early-career earnings depend heavily on individual talent, network, and career pathway choices rather than institutional prestige alone. Access and affordability shape the composite differently at a conservatory. 16.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.2% are first-generation college students. Berklee College of Music sits in the 57.5 percentile for access and the 0.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students admitted to a specialized music institution, the financial calculus centers on whether the conservatory's network, faculty mentorship, and performance opportunities justify the cost — a decision that depends on individual career ambitions in music, audio production, or related creative fields rather than on broad institutional outcomes alone.
Berklee College of Music's published cost of attendance is $72,700. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $42,734, middle-income families pay around $47,799, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,676. Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1418 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and merit considerations. Berklee's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components, with need-based aid available through the FAFSA and merit scholarships awarded to admitted students. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs. Families should review Berklee's financial aid page for current aid policies and application requirements, as merit aid availability and amounts can shift year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $87,996; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,028, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Berklee College of Music is a strong fit for students passionate about music and the performing arts who want a private conservatory experience in Boston, MA. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $41,028, placing Berklee College of Music in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $38,127 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 1.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 16.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.2% are first-generation — Berklee commits to meeting demonstrated financial need in full under current financial aid policies. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 43.5% admit rate makes the application process highly competitive, and the program mix favors music and performing arts over other disciplines. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find Berklee's specialized training and industry connections among the strongest in the country.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Berklee College Of Music hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Berklee College of Music's published cost of attendance is $72,700. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $42,734, middle-income families pay around $47,799, and higher-income families pay approximately $54,676.
Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1418 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and merit considerations.
Berklee's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components, with need-based aid available through the FAFSA and merit scholarships awarded to admitted students. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs.
Families should review Berklee's [financial aid page](https://www.berklee.edu/financial-aid) for current aid policies and application requirements, as merit aid availability and amounts can shift year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $87,996; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,028, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Berklee College of Music earn median 4-year earnings of $41,028, placing Berklee College of Music in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $38,127 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Berklee College of Music in the 1.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Berklee College of Music #1460 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's concentrated focus on Visual & Performing Arts, where early-career earnings trajectories depend heavily on individual artistic development, industry networking, and career pathway choices.
The earnings pattern centers on performance and composition fields. Music is the largest program with 656 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,617, performing at 0.9× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field.
The Computer Software program graduates 379 students earning $40,186, and Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other program graduates 174 students earning $48,069. Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft round out the top programs with 167 and 66 graduates respectively.
As a specialized conservatory, Berklee's earnings outcomes reflect the realities of creative careers — outcomes vary substantially by specialization, geographic market, and the speed at which graduates establish professional networks and performance opportunities in Boston's and beyond music industry ecosystem.
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
167 graduates
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
174 graduates
Computer Software and Media Applications
379 graduates
Music
656 graduates
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
34 graduates
Berklee College of Music's program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts, reflecting the institution's specialized identity as a music and performing arts conservatory. Music is the largest program with 656 graduates, followed by Computer Software, Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,509 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes that reflect the institution's reputation and graduate employment patterns in creative industries. The earnings pattern reflects the specialized nature of music and performing arts education.
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management graduates earn median earnings of $59,703 four years after enrollment, while Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other graduates earn $48,069 and Computer Software graduates earn $40,186. These outcomes reflect a mix of direct-to-workforce pathways—including performance, recording, and music production roles—where graduates enter competitive creative markets.
Music and Dance round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $38,617 and $35,702 respectively. Berklee College of Music positions itself as a specialized conservatory where program outcomes depend heavily on individual talent, networking, and career choices within creative industries.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how music and performing arts fields align with labor-market dynamics. Graduates pursue diverse pathways—from performance and composition to production, education, and entrepreneurship—making four-year earnings figures one measure among many of career success in fields where income often grows substantially beyond the early-career window.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dean College Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 24 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 74% | $38,109 | Compare |
Cornish College Of The Arts Higher acceptance rate (20.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | WA | 70% | $33,696 | Compare |
Pacific Northwest College Of Art Higher acceptance rate (18.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 69% | $34,883 | Compare |
The New England Conservatory Of Music Same state (0 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | MA | 43% | $34,483 | Compare |
Dean College Same state (24 miles away) (earnings difference: 13.3%) and similar program focus; same institution type | MA | 74% | $38,109 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago Similar quality tier (#36275 ranked) | IL | 77% | $40,151 | #36275 | Compare |
Lynn University Similar quality tier (#36242 ranked) | FL | 73% | $49,006 | #36242 | Compare |
Pratt Institute-Main Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36237 ranked) | NY | 73% | $54,295 | #36237 | Compare |
Emerson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36233 ranked) | MA | 51% | $62,832 | #36233 | Compare |
High Point University Similar quality tier (#36195 ranked) | NC | 75% | $61,389 | #36195 | Compare |
