Berklee School of Music vs. CW

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with The College of Westchester in White Plains, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than CW based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 759 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); The College of Westchester is in White Plains, NY (Small City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Westchester is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; The College of Westchester 19:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. CW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or CW? 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 The College of Westchester than Berklee School of Music ($15,871 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Westchester are 52.2% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($9,520 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 106.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CW (about $26,849 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $25,191.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 106.6% higher at Berklee School of Music than at The College of Westchester (about $26,849 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $25,191.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Westchester than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 47.4% larger than aid received by The College of Westchester students ($23,346 vs. $15,841).

Berklee School of Music vs. CW Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; CW - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• CW has a higher acceptance rate (94.4%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 21.3% at CW.

Berklee School of Music vs. CW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and CW? 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 The College of Westchester earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Westchester graduates have a $1,356 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($23,894 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, CW graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($247 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CW students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 31%)

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.