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Berklee College of Music

Private

Boston, MA

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Berklee College of Music is a private mid-sized school in Boston, MA, enrolling about 7,468 undergraduates. Berklee College of Music is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate near 44%. Among reported majors, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management shows the strongest outcomes -- $59,703/year in median earnings four years after graduation. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate44%
SAT rangeNot reported
ACT rangeNot reported
Undergrads7,468
Yield (admits who enroll)41%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (EA)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$72,700
4-year grad rate67%
Median earnings, 10yr out$33,647

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

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How Berklee College of Music weighs your application

From Berklee College of Music's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresNot considered
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewVery important
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans34%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out65%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Software and Media Applications$40,186/yr
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other$48,069/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$59,703/yr
Music$38,617/yr
Visual and Performing Arts, Other$37,117/yr
Dance$35,702/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity1,428
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsConsidered, not required

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Berklee College of Music look for in applicants?

Per Berklee College of Music's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates talent/ability, academic GPA, interview as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Berklee College of Music's acceptance rate?

Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA admits approximately 44% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

How much does Berklee College of Music cost?

Berklee College of Music's total cost of attendance is reported at $72,700 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Berklee College of Music?

Berklee College of Music's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Berklee College of Music require students to live on campus?

No -- Berklee College of Music doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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