Berklee School of Music vs. WPI

Comparable Facts

Compare Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than WPI based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 7,584 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Worcester Polytechnic Institute is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berklee College of Music 9:1; Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

Berklee School of Music vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berklee School of Music or WPI? 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute than Berklee School of Music ($47,372 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 7.7% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($18,386 vs. $19,930).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berklee School of Music (about $8,925 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at WPI than at Berklee College of Music (about $8,925 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $52,040.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Berklee College of Music students ($31,545 vs. $23,346).

Berklee School of Music vs. WPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berklee School of Music or WPI? 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 WPI and Berklee School of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berklee School of Music - Test-free; WPI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027; WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• WPI has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Berklee School of Music vs. 18.1% at WPI.

Berklee School of Music vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berklee School of Music and WPI? 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Berklee College of Music's (52%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $46,300 more per year than Berklee School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berklee College of Music graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Berklee School of Music graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 66%)

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.