Berklee College of Music: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Boston, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- Early Action
- 6,671
- Applicants
- 3,675
- Admitted55%
- 1,466
- Enrolled
- 40%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective55% admittedRanked #45 (tie) in Regional Universities North; Computer Science #452 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Berklee College of Music (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Berklee College of Music a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Berklee College of Music against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Berklee College of Music is a private nonprofit university in Boston, Massachusetts that admits about 55% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $49,465 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Music, Computer Software and Media Applications and Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 73% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Berklee College of Music is a private institution located in Boston, Massachusetts with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Berklee College of Music admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 55%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $49,465 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
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What does Berklee College of Music weight in admissions?
Berklee College of Music reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Academic GPA
- Interview
- Talent/ability
Considered
13- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
2- Standardized test scores
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Berklee College of Music typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: Berklee College of Music does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Berklee does not use SAT or ACT scores; admission is based on application plus audition and interview.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Berklee College of Music's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Berklee College of Music actually cost?
Published tuition is $52,040 for in-state students and $52,040 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,930 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $49,465 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $54,020 |
| Room and board | $21,300 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $49,465 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 41% |
| Average need-based grant | $7,622 |
| Average merit award, no financial need420 first-year students received one | $19,533 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 37% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $49,464 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $150 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Berklee College of Music
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | March 31 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Berklee College of Music?
These predict outcomes at Berklee College of Music better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Berklee College of Music
The most popular undergraduate programs at Berklee College of Music, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Music, Computer Software and Media Applications and Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other. Across all programs, Berklee College of Music confers roughly 1,509 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Music program report a median income of about $33,368 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Music | 656 | $33,368 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 379 | n/a |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | 174 | n/a |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 167 | $54,487 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 66 | n/a |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 34 | n/a |
| Dance | 20 | $19,056 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 13 | n/a |
Is Berklee College of Music safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Berklee College of Music disclosed 46 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 12 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Berklee College of Music?
About 23% of undergraduates at Berklee College of Music live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
Next steps for Berklee College of Music
Common questions parents ask about Berklee College of Music
What GPA do I need for Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Berklee College of Music typically admit?
Berklee College of Music is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does Berklee College of Music actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Berklee College of Music after grants and scholarships is $49,465 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $52,040. Budget against the net figure.
Is Berklee College of Music realistic for my child?
Berklee College of Music admits 55% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $49,465 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Berklee College of Music?
Berklee College of Music accepts about 55% of applicants out of roughly 6,671 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Berklee College of Music test-optional?
Berklee College of Music is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at Berklee College of Music?
About 73% of students at Berklee College of Music graduate within six years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Berklee College of Music look for in applicants?
Berklee College of Music rates GPA, the interview and talent and ability as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Berklee College of Music a public or private school, and where is it located?
Berklee College of Music is a private nonprofit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at Berklee College of Music?
The largest undergraduate majors at Berklee College of Music by annual graduates are Music, Computer Software and Media Applications and Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other. The school awards about 1,509 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Berklee College of Music safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Berklee College of Music reported 46 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Berklee College of Music?
At Berklee College of Music, 23% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Berklee College of Music, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers