Berklee School of Music vs. Keystone College

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Keystone College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Keystone College is in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Keystone College 12:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Keystone 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 Keystone College than Berklee School of Music ($21,952 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 36.8% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($12,600 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 184.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Keystone College (about $33,740 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 184.4% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Keystone College (about $33,740 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Keystone College than at Berklee College of Music (84% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 130.7% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($23,346 vs. $10,119).

Berklee School of Music vs. Keystone College Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKeystone College 910/1130.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Keystone College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Keystone College has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 10.8% at Keystone College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Keystone 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).

• Berklee College of Music's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Berklee College of Music earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berklee College of Music graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Keystone College graduates ($25,250 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Berklee School of Music graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Keystone College graduates ($261 vs. $268).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)

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.