Berklee School of Music vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Massachusetts College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 1,989 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Massachusetts College of Art and Design is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than Berklee School of Music ($24,864 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Art and Design are 2.6% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($19,412 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 237.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $36,640 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $8,640 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Berklee College of Music (84% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 124% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($23,346 vs. $10,421).

Berklee School of Music vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Berklee School of Music vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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).

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Berklee School of Music graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,250 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Berklee School of Music graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($261 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

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.