Berklee School of Music vs. RIC

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or RIC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than Berklee School of Music ($10,346 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 32.7% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($13,414 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 360.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $40,740 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.6% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Rhode Island College (about $24,741 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $27,299.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Berklee College of Music (95% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 248.1% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($23,346 vs. $6,706).

Berklee School of Music vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or RIC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RIC and Berklee School of Music.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island College 870/1120.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; RIC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
• RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 23.1% at RIC.

Berklee School of Music vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and RIC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Berklee College of Music's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $4,050 lower median loan debt than Berklee School of Music graduates ($21,200 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Berklee School of Music graduates ($219 vs. $261).
• More Berklee School of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.