USD vs. Berklee School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than Berklee School of Music based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 8,369 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Berklee College of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Berklee College of Music 9:1.

USD vs. Berklee School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or Berklee School 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 University of San Diego than Berklee School of Music ($37,918 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 0.1% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($19,918 vs. $19,930).
• University of San Diego is 14.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $7,446 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at USD than at Berklee College of Music (about $7,446 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at Berklee College of Music (84% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 75.5% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($40,965 vs. $23,346).

USD vs. Berklee School of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD or Berklee School 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 Berklee School of Music and USD.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; Berklee School of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 45.5% at Berklee School of Music.

USD vs. Berklee School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD and Berklee School 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $33,800 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $2,346 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($22,904 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($236 vs. $261).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.