Berklee School of Music vs. Russell Sage College

Comparable Facts

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

Berklee College of Music is larger than Russell Sage College based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 2,790 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Russell Sage College is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Russell Sage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Russell Sage College 10:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. Russell Sage College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or Russell Sage 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 Russell Sage College than Berklee School of Music ($21,046 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Russell Sage College are 29.5% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($14,048 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 36.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Russell Sage College (about $13,876 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.4% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Russell Sage College (about $13,876 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Russell Sage College than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Russell Sage College students is 25.5% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($29,295 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. Russell Sage College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; Russell Sage College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Russell Sage College has a higher acceptance rate (53.3%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 19.4% at Russell Sage College.

Berklee School of Music vs. Russell Sage College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Russell Sage College's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Russell Sage College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Russell Sage College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Russell Sage College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($240 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Russell Sage College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 62%)

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.