Maine College of Art & Design vs. Berklee School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME with Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berklee College of Music is larger than Maine College of Art & Design based on total student enrollment (8,369 students vs. 475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maine College of Art & Design is located in Portland, ME (Small City setting); Berklee College of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Maine College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Berklee College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maine College of Art & Design 8:1; Berklee College of Music 9:1.

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Berklee School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maine College of Art & Design or Berklee School of Music? 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 Maine College of Art & Design than Berklee School of Music ($39,639 vs. $49,797).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maine College of Art & Design are 13.8% lower than at Berklee College of Music ($17,184 vs. $19,930).
• Berklee College of Music is 21.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maine College of Art & Design (about $9,098 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.2% higher at Berklee School of Music than at Maine College of Art & Design (about $9,098 more per year; $52,040.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maine College of Art & Design than at Berklee College of Music (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berklee College of Music students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Maine College of Art & Design students ($23,346 vs. $20,277).

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Berklee School of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maine College of Art & Design or Berklee School of Music? 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 Berklee School of Music and Maine College of Art & Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maine College of Art & Design - Test-free; Berklee School of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berklee School of Music Jan 15, 2027.
• Maine College of Art & Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.1%) than Berklee School of Music (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Maine College of Art & Design vs. 45.5% at Berklee School of Music.

Maine College of Art & Design vs. Berklee School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maine College of Art & Design and Berklee School of Music? 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 Maine College of Art & Design's (42%).
• Graduates from Berklee College of Music earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Maine College of Art & Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $31,600), 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 Maine College of Art & Design 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 Maine College of Art & Design graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Maine College of Art & Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berklee School of Music students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.