Berklee School of Music vs. PLU

Should I go to Berklee College of Music or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Berklee School of Music or PLU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Berklee College of Music vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Berklee College of Music Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Berklee College of Music Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Berklee School of Music PLU
Location Boston, MA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,282 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berklee.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Berklee School of Music PLU
Tuition (In State) $46,950 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $46,950 $49,472
Room & Board $19,010 $11,826
Avg Net Price $46,873 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $19,300 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 99%

Admission

Berklee School of Music PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,286 3,334
Admitted 3,951 2,964
Acceptance Rate 54.2% 88.9%
Enrolled % 41.2% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.71
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/30
SAT Range 1253/1423
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Berklee School of Music PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (81%)
  • Communications Technology (16%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Education (2%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Berklee School of Music PLU
Graduation Rate 52% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,400 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,250 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $261 $266

Diversity

Berklee School of Music PLU
% Men 57% 36%
% Women 43% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 36% 68%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 33% 4%
% Unknown Race 9% 1%

Students

Berklee School of Music PLU
% In-State 7% 74%
% Out-of-State 57% 22%

Campus

Berklee School of Music PLU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Berklee College of Music is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (8,282 students vs. 2,633 students)

Berklee School of Music vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or PLU?

  • Pacific Lutheran University is 5.4% more expensive to attend than Berklee School of Music for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $46,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.4% higher at PLU than Berklee College of Music ($49,472.00 vs. $46,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Berklee School of Music ($24,825 vs. $46,873)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 60.7% lower than costs at Berklee College of Music ($11,826 vs. $19,010)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Berklee College of Music (99% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 88.8% larger than aid received Berklee College of Music ($36,435 vs. $19,300)

Berklee School of Music vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Berklee School of Music .

  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Berklee School of Music (54.2%)

Berklee School of Music vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Berklee School of Music or PLU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLU and Berklee School of Music.

  • The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Berklee College of Music (66% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $15,900 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $36,400)
  • Berklee College of Music students graduate with a $550 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($25,250 vs. $25,800)
  • Berklee School of Music graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($261 vs. $266)
  • More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/