Berklee School of Music vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Dean College 15:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Dean College? 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 Dean College than Berklee School of Music ($32,085 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dean College are 0.3% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($19,864 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $5,514 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Dean College (about $5,514 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 41.2% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($32,958 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Dean College? 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).

• Dean College's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Berklee College of Music earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $8,897 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($16,353 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($169 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

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.