Berklee School of Music vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Plaza 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 Plaza College than Berklee School of Music ($19,860 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 22.2% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($15,500 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 236.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $36,590 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 236.8% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Plaza College (about $36,590 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plaza College than at Berklee College of Music (93% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 250.3% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($23,346 vs. $6,665).

Berklee School of Music vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Berklee School of Music has a higher acceptance rate (43.5%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Graduates from Berklee College of Music earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $11,335 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($13,915 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($143 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 30%)

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.