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

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than Berklee School of Music ($28,826 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 13.5% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($17,230 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 61.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $19,890 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.9% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $19,890 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 55.8% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($23,346 vs. $14,989).

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

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

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

• The graduation rate at Berklee School of Music is the same as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (52% vs. 52%).
• Graduates from Berklee College of Music earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $28,700), 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 58%)

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.