loading 6,000+ schools…

Compare Berklee College of Music vs Brandeis University

Boston, MA · Waltham, MA

Berklee College of MusicBrandeis University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$49,465/yr$35,736/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$42,734/yr$13,363/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$25,000$25,648
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$37,987/yr$15,135/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$47,799/yr$20,536/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$46,801/yr$26,784/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$54,676/yr$54,885/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$265/mo$272/mo
Room & board (on campus)$19,930/yr$19,944/yr
Room & board (off campus)$20,830/yr$13,313/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,085/yr$1,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,623/yr$1,200/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$72,700/yr$86,448/yr
Tuition (in-state)$52,040/yr$68,080/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$52,040/yr$68,080/yr
Students with Pell Grants16%15%
Students taking federal loans34%28%
Getting in
Students who get accepted44%41%
SAT range (middle 50%)No data reported1390–1520
SAT averageNo data reported1462
ACT range (middle 50%)No data reported31–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)No data reportedEnglish 31–35 · Math 27–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received7,16711,282
Students accepted3,5773,984
Students who enrolled1,502865
Accepted students who enroll42%22%
Enrolled who sent SAT scoresNo data reported31%
Enrolled who sent ACT scoresNo data reported11%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Required
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Required
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programNot consideredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesRequiredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate67%86%
Freshmen who come back89%87%
Typical earnings 10 years in$33,647/yr$77,231/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$12,235–$61,842$51,787–$116,723
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)61%88%
White students graduating62%88%
Black students graduating61%80%
Hispanic students graduating65%83%
Asian students graduating77%87%
Typical earnings 6 years in$26,462/yr$52,967/yr
Earn more than a HS grad53%85%
Graduate on time50%77%
Pell students who graduate61%82%
First-gen students who finish53%79%
Low-income students who finish48%75%
Students who transfer out5.7%7.7%
Typical earnings 8 years in$27,560/yr$69,857/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsVisual & Performing Arts 57% · Computer & Information Sciences 25% · Engineering Technologies 16%Social Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 19% · Psychology 8%
Most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 57% of degreesSocial Sciences — 19% of degrees
2nd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 25% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 19% of degrees
3rd most popular programEngineering Technologies — 16% of degreesPsychology — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programHealth Professions — 1% of degreesPublic Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programEducation — <1% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management — $40,324/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $89,111/yr
Degrees in STEM41%35%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment7,4683,618
Students per professor9 : 110 : 1
Graduate students8201,573
Average professor pay$10,837/mo$14,570/mo
Full-time professors34%74%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$50,454$72,612
SettingCity (large)City (small)
LocationBoston, MAWaltham, MA
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded19451948
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students32%19%
Men55%43%
Women45%57%
White students37%41%
Black students6.2%5.8%
Hispanic or Latino students13%9%
Asian students5.7%18%
Two or more races4.6%4.3%
Other / not reported1.9%2.4%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students21%16%
Part-time students20%0.2%
Students age 25+17%0.4%
Spent on teaching per student$20,700/yr$21,670/yr
Endowment$426.4M$1.3B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,5192,950
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)No data reported$10,160/yr
Meal plan chargeNo data reported$7,658/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week19 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCNoYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoYes
Athletics
Athletics data fromNo data reported2024-25
College sports levelNo intercollegiate athletics reportedNCAA Division III without football
Football teamNo data reportedNo
Varsity teamsNo data reported15
Student athletesNo data reported287
Athletic scholarshipsNo data reported$0
Athletics budgetNo data reported$5.7M
Athletics revenueNo data reported$5.7M
Recruiting spendNo data reported$76,511

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.