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 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.
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 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.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
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 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.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
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 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.
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
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 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.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
