Berklee School of Music vs. Manhattan School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Manhattan School of Music based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 1,084 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Manhattan School of Music is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Manhattan School of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Manhattan School of Music 6:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Manhattan School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Manhattan School 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 Berklee College of Music than Manhattan School of Music ($49,797 vs. $51,767).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Manhattan School of Music are 9.4% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($18,050 vs. $19,930).
• Manhattan School of Music is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $5,010 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Manhattan School of Music than at Berklee College of Music (about $5,010 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Manhattan School of Music than at Berklee College of Music (87% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Manhattan School of Music students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($26,001 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. Manhattan School of Music Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Manhattan School of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Manhattan School of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Berklee School of Music has a higher acceptance rate (43.5%) than Manhattan School of Music (40.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 25.3% at Manhattan School of Music.

Berklee School of Music vs. Manhattan School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Manhattan School of Music's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Manhattan School of Music earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($23,750 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($245 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Manhattan School of Music students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 65%)

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.