Berklee School of Music vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or CU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than Berklee School of Music ($18,499 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 35.8% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($12,800 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 86.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $24,200 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86.9% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Cumberland University (about $24,200 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 5.8% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($24,703 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or CU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CU and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 40.5% at CU.

Berklee School of Music vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and CU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Berklee College of Music's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $3,521 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($21,729 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($224 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.