Hampshire College vs. The New England Conservatory of Music

Comparable Facts

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

The New England Conservatory of Music is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (853 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hampshire College is located in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting); The New England Conservatory of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Hampshire College 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: Hampshire College 13:1; The New England Conservatory of Music 5:1.

Hampshire College vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hampshire College 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 Hampshire College than The New England Conservatory of Music ($27,895 vs. $50,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 20.2% lower than at The New England Conservatory of Music ($15,958 vs. $20,010).
• The New England Conservatory of Music is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hampshire College (about $1,854 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Hampshire College (about $1,854 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at The New England Conservatory of Music (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 50.3% larger than aid received by The New England Conservatory of Music students ($46,145 vs. $30,707).

Hampshire College vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hampshire College 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 Hampshire College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hampshire College - Test-free; The New England Conservatory of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027; The New England Conservatory of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Hampshire College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than The New England Conservatory of Music (41.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.4% at Hampshire College vs. 29.5% at The New England Conservatory of Music.

Hampshire College vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hampshire College 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 Hampshire College's (61%).
• Graduates from Hampshire College earn a median of about $600 more per year than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $5,469 lower median loan debt than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($23,531 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($243 vs. $299).
• More The New England Conservatory of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hampshire College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 72%)

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.