Berklee School of Music vs. The New England Conservatory of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than The New England Conservatory of Music based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); The New England Conservatory of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The New England Conservatory of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; The New England Conservatory of Music 5:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or The New England Conservatory of Music? 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 Berklee College of Music than The New England Conservatory of Music ($49,797 vs. $50,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berklee College of Music are 0.4% lower than at The New England Conservatory of Music ($19,930 vs. $20,010).
• The New England Conservatory of Music is 16.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $8,710 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Berklee College of Music (about $8,710 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Berklee College of Music (98% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The New England Conservatory of Music students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($30,707 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or The New England Conservatory of Music? 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 The New England Conservatory of Music and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; The New England Conservatory of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; The New England Conservatory of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Berklee School of Music has a higher acceptance rate (43.5%) than The New England Conservatory of Music (41.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 29.5% at The New England Conservatory of Music.

Berklee School of Music vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and The New England Conservatory of Music? 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 New England Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from The New England Conservatory of Music earn a median of about $100 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berklee College of Music graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($25,250 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Berklee School of Music graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($261 vs. $299).
• More The New England Conservatory of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.