Berklee College of Music vs Berkshire Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Berkshire Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,832 against a $19,842 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Berkshire Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $9,921 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $19,842 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $38,832 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $12,053 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$210,402 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College, at $9,921 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $39,544 a year, or $178,018 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Berklee College of Music or Berkshire Community College graduates earn more?
Berkshire Community College graduates report a median $38,832 ten years after entry, $5,185 more than the $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Berklee College of Music or Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College: its completers carry a median $12,053 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Berklee College of Music, a difference of $12,947. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Berklee College of Music, against 20% at Berkshire Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.