Berklee School of Music vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Merrimack? 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 Merrimack College than Berklee School of Music ($38,504 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berklee College of Music are 7.4% lower than at Merrimack College ($19,930 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $1,922 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Merrimack than at Berklee College of Music (about $1,922 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($31,550 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Berklee School of Music vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $21,600 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berklee College of Music graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Berklee School of Music graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 66%)

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.