Berklee School of Music vs. Curtis Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Curtis Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Curtis Institute of Music is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Curtis Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Curtis Institute of Music 2:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Curtis Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Curtis Institute of Music? 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 Curtis Institute of Music than Berklee School of Music ($23,686 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berklee College of Music are 5.3% lower than at Curtis Institute of Music ($19,930 vs. $21,035).
• In-state tuition differs between Berklee College of Music and Curtis Institute of Music ($52,040.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between Berklee School of Music and Curtis Institute of Music ($52,040.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Curtis Institute of Music than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 200.3% larger than aid received by Curtis Institute of Music students ($23,346 vs. $7,774).

Berklee School of Music vs. Curtis Institute of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or Curtis Institute of Music? 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 Curtis Institute of Music and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Curtis Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Curtis Institute of Music Dec 18, 2026.
• Berklee School of Music has a higher acceptance rate (43.5%) than Curtis Institute of Music (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 92.3% at Curtis Institute of Music.

Berklee School of Music vs. Curtis Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Curtis Institute of Music? 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).

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.