Berklee School of Music vs. Peirce College

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Peirce College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 929 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Berklee School of Music vs. Peirce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Peirce 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 Peirce College than Berklee School of Music ($13,290 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Peirce College are 55.8% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($8,800 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 245.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Peirce College (about $36,980 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 245.6% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Peirce College (about $36,980 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Peirce College than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 334.7% larger than aid received by Peirce College students ($23,346 vs. $5,370).

Berklee School of Music vs. Peirce College Admissions comparison

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

• Peirce College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Peirce College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.

Berklee School of Music vs. Peirce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and Peirce 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 Peirce College's (27%).
• Graduates from Peirce College earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berklee College of Music graduates have a $10,875 lower median loan debt than Peirce College graduates ($25,250 vs. $36,125).
• Among borrowers, Berklee School of Music graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Peirce College graduates ($261 vs. $373).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peirce College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 32%)

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.