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Colleges / Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate54%

Berklee College of Music Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Berklee College of Music was $48,830 a year.

Tuition increased 4% in 2023–from $46,950 the previous year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams seem daunting, remember, the advertized cost of tuition doesn't always give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students owe way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Berklee College of Music meets 51% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Berklee College of Music full-time are awarded $25,978.62 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $49,989 of debt.

Does Berklee College of Music Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Berklee College of Music is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a school where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan save significant money on the total cost of attending college. Take the time to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Berklee College of Music International Student Tuition

Tuition at Berklee College of Music is the same for all students.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Berklee College of Music:

Berklee College of Music-specific scholarships


Berklee College of Music Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Berklee College of Music.

House and Food Costs at Berklee College of Music

Room and board at Berklee College of Music is $19,440 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat in the Berklee College of Music's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Berklee College of Music

The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials. For more information review the Berklee Cost of Attendance website and explore the Berklee bookstore.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools offer ways so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Berklee College of Music

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Berklee College of Music, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area is sometimes expensive, but there may be more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Berklee College of Music campus is in a city in Massachusetts.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to consider the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.


Total Tuition and Expenses at Berklee College of Music


Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Berklee College of Music.

How Much Does Berklee College of Music Cost?

What will the cost of attending Berklee College of Music be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $48,830
Room and Board $19,440
Other expenses $7,878.94

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $76,148.94
Off-Campus $76,148.94

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Berklee College of Music Financial Aid


In 2023, 1,728 of the 7,526 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Berklee College of Music meets 51% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $25,978.62 a year. Around 36.5% of Berklee College of Music undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Berklee College of Music graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $49,989 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $22,501
Private Loans $77,952
Most Common Loans for Berklee College of Music Students
Federal Loans 35.1%
Private loans 13.3%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Berklee College of Music financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Berklee College of Music

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Berklee College of Music awarded 632 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $44.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $50.92 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Berklee College of Music Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Berklee College of Music students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Berklee College of Music was $25,978.62 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Berklee College of Music seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $45,106.38
Off-Campus $25,666.38

What will attending Berklee College of Music really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Berklee College of Music's net cost calculator on their website.

Berklee College of Music Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Berklee College of Music offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Berklee College of Music Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Berklee College of Music has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Berklee College of Music's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

For more information about Berklee College of Music's endowment, check with the school directly.


Learn More About Berklee College of Music


To learn more about Berklee College of Music, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$69,710

In State

$69,710

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$48,830
$48,830
Fees
$1,440
$1,440
Housing
$19,440
$19,440
Books
Unknown
Unknown

Berklee College of Music Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

11%

Average Financial Aid Package

$28,329

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

8,282

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

54%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$48,830

Out-of-State

$48,830

Fall First Year
Application

Jan 15
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