Berklee School of Music vs. NEC

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than NEC based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 3,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); New England College is in Henniker, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New England College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; New England College 8:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. NEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or NEC? 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 New England College than Berklee School of Music ($27,398 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New England College are 12.1% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($17,526 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 24.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NEC (about $10,102 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at Berklee School of Music than at New England College (about $10,102 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at New England College than at Berklee College of Music (99% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New England College students is 37.5% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($32,095 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. NEC Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; NEC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• NEC has a higher acceptance rate (92.1%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 8.8% at NEC.

Berklee School of Music vs. NEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and NEC? 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 New England College's (38%).
• Graduates from New England College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 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 NEC 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 NEC graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NEC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 54%)

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.