U.S. median for this major: $43,753.
College Scorecard field of study; 561 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 65% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $72,700. College Scorecard.
Berklee College of Music Music: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Berklee College of Music's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $42,734 | $183,329 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $37,987 | $162,964 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $47,799 | $205,058 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $46,801 | $200,776 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $54,676 | $234,560 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (50% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Music graduates 4 years after graduating ($38,617) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Music at Massachusetts colleges
Every Massachusetts college we cover that reports Music graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University | $60,974 | $26,568 | $30,915 | 91% |
| 2 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | $60,974 | $26,568 | — | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $53,384 | $27,000 | $17,163 | 65% |
| 4 | Westfield State University | $39,692 | — | $16,721 | 54% |
| 5 | Boston University | $39,426 | $26,957 | $24,402 | 89% |
| 6 | Berklee College of Music | $38,617 | $24,979 | $49,465 | 67% |
| 7 | The New England Conservatory of Music | $26,985 | $26,991 | $46,754 | 73% |
26 more Massachusetts colleges offer Music but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Music graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Music Directors and Composers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Berklee College of Music, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Berklee College of Music
- Acceptance rate: 44% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $33,647
- Full cost breakdown · all 9 majors · overview
Related majors at Berklee College of Music
- Theatre—
- Arts and Entertainment Management$59,703
Berklee College of Music Music questions
How much do Berklee College of Music Music graduates earn?
Music graduates of Berklee College of Music earn a median $38,617 four years after graduating and $18,177 one year after. The U.S. median for Music graduates across 263 colleges is $43,753.
How much debt do Berklee College of Music Music graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Music graduates of Berklee College of Music is $24,979, about 65% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Berklee College of Music a good school for Music in Massachusetts?
On pay, Music graduates of Berklee College of Music earn $38,617 four years out, $1,075 below the median for the same major across 7 Massachusetts colleges ($39,692) and $5,136 below the U.S. median ($43,753). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Berklee College of Music rank for Music in Massachusetts?
Of 7 Massachusetts colleges reporting Music graduate earnings, Berklee College of Music ranks 6th. The highest is Northeastern University at $60,974.
What jobs do Music graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $98,850 in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH area and $72,040 nationally. Others include music directors and composers.
Is Berklee College of Music the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Berklee College of Music with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Berklee College of Music Music: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/berklee-college-of-music/majors/music (College Scorecard and BLS data).