Is Berklee College of Music Worth the Debt?
Graduates of Berklee College of Music earn a median of $76,526 within 5 years, against a median debt of $27,494. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Median Debt | $27,494 |
| Avg Median Earnings (1yr) | $54,375 |
| Avg Median Earnings (5yr) | $76,526 |
| Graduation Rate | 10000% |
| School Type | private |
| Majors Available | 8 |
Top Majors by ROI
| Major | ROI Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 95/100 | A |
| Engineering Technologies, Other | 82/100 | A |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 77/100 | B |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 62/100 | C |
| Music | 61/100 | C |
How does Berklee College of Music compare?
Average debt at Berklee College of Music is $27,494, which is roughly at the national average of $26,295 for federal aid recipients. First-year earnings of $54,375 sit $3,400 below the national average of $57,775.
That works out to a debt-to-income ratio of 0.51x — meaning a graduate would need 0.5 years of full pre-tax first-year salary to clear the debt. Below 1.0x is considered manageable on a 10-year standard repayment plan. Picking the right major matters more than picking the school: at Berklee College of Music, the Computer Software and Media Applications program scores Grade A on ROI (STRONG BUY).
Graduates of Berklee College of Music earn a median of $76,526 within 5 years, against a median debt of $27,494. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.