Quad

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MAQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forVery diverseEnrollment up 57% since fall 2014
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 6,671 applied (fall 2024: 7,050)Berklee College of Music (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 3,675 admits (fall 2024: 3,069)Berklee College of Music (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 55% admitted (fall 2024: 44%)Berklee College of Music (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 7,197 undergraduates (fall 2024: 7,468)Berklee College of Music Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 86% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 89%)Berklee College of Music Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Berklee College of Music Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Berklee College of Music Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

6 in 10 applicants admitted

Berklee College of Music admits about 6 in 10 applicants (55%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 81% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

55%

55%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

6,671

Admitted

3,675

Yield

40%

of admits enroll

Applications +13% since fall 2014 · admit rate 40% → 44%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,197 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.2K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.74

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

21%

below the median

Large cityStudy abroad
Steady · index 0.74 → 0.74 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Software and Media Applications, Other (25% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 34% of faculty are full-time. Spends $20,700 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Software and Media Applications, Other

25% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

$59.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

34%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$20.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $55,457 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $31.2K more than the national median. The 77% who received grants paid $49,797 on average; the other 23% paid the full sticker price of $73,418.

24%

$55.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $31.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$73,418 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 24% of full price

Federal loans

34%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −16% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $33,647 ten years after enrolling, more than at 5% of colleges; 61% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 6.6 years of that salary.

61%

61%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$33.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

86%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 49% → 67% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 16%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 13% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 40% to 44%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −16% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +13%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 40% → 44% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.74 → 0.74 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Berklee College of Music Common Data Set 2025–26

    Berklee College of Music · Fall 2025; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 164748 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything