Berklee School of Music vs. Paul Smith's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Paul Smith's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than Berklee School of Music ($28,443 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 28.6% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($14,236 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 57.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $19,031 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $19,031 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($23,346 vs. $22,973).

Berklee School of Music vs. Paul Smith's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smith's College and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Paul Smith's College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 18.8% at Paul Smith's College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Paul Smith's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of about $300 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($258 vs. $261).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.