Longy vs. The New England Conservatory of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, 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 Longy based on total student enrollment (853 students vs. 317 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Longy School of Music of Bard College is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); The New England Conservatory of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Longy School of Music of Bard 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: Longy School of Music of Bard College 4:1; The New England Conservatory of Music 5:1.

Longy vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Longy 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 Longy School of Music of Bard College than The New England Conservatory of Music ($49,815 vs. $50,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Longy School of Music of Bard College are 26.3% lower than at The New England Conservatory of Music ($14,738 vs. $20,010).
• The New England Conservatory of Music is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Longy (about $5,475 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $55,275.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Longy School of Music of Bard College (about $5,475 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $55,275.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Longy School of Music of Bard College than at The New England Conservatory of Music (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The New England Conservatory of Music students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Longy School of Music of Bard College students ($30,707 vs. $22,635).

Longy vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Longy or The New England Conservatory of Music? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The New England Conservatory of Music and Longy.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Longy - Not reported; The New England Conservatory of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: The New England Conservatory of Music Dec 1, 2026.

Longy vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Longy and The New England Conservatory of Music? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• The New England Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate is 77%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Longy.
• Graduates from The New England Conservatory of Music have median earnings of about $36,500 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Longy.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Longy School of Music of Bard College graduates have a $2,806 lower median loan debt than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($26,194 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Longy graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($270 vs. $299).
• More Longy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New England Conservatory of Music students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.