Columbia College vs. Berklee School of Music

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Berklee College of Music? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Berklee School of Music is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Columbia College Chicago vs. Berklee College of Music comparison
Columbia College Chicago Berklee College of Music College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago Berklee College of Music
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Overview

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Location Chicago, IL Boston, MA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 6,646 8,282
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu berklee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $46,950
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $46,950
Room & Board $18,000 $19,010
Avg Net Price $28,387 $46,873
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $19,300
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 59%

Admission

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 7,286
Admitted 7,298 3,951
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 54.2%
Enrolled % 22%Open 41.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (81%)
  • Communications Technology (16%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Education (2%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Graduation Rate 41% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $36,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $261

Diversity

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
% Men 40% 57%
% Women 60% 43%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 36%
% Black 15% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 33%
% Unknown Race 7% 9%

Students

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
% In-State 57% 7%
% Out-of-State 40% 57%

Campus

Columbia College Berklee School of Music
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Berklee College of Music is larger than than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (8,282 students vs. 6,646 students)

Columbia College vs. Berklee School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Berklee School of Music?

  • Berklee College of Music is 60.4% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($46,950.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.4% higher at Berklee School of Music than Columbia College Chicago ($46,950.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia College Chicago than Berklee School of Music ($28,387 vs. $46,873)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College Chicago are 5.6% lower than costs at Berklee College of Music ($18,000 vs. $19,010)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Berklee College of Music (99% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 7.1% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($19,300 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Berklee School of Music Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Berklee School of Music? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Berklee School of Music or Columbia College .

  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Berklee School of Music (54.2%)

Columbia College vs. Berklee School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Berklee School of Music? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Berklee School of Music and Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Berklee School of Music is higher than Columbia College Chicago (52% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn on average $900 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates after ten years. ($37,300 vs. $36,400)
  • Berklee College of Music students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($25,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Berklee School of Music graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($261 vs. $268)
  • More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/