Berklee College of Music vs Dean College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dean College comes closer — median earnings $38,109 against a $122,736 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Dean College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $30,684 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $122,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $38,109 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$327,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Dean College?
Dean College, at $30,684 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $18,781 a year, or $75,124 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 Dean College graduates earn more?
Dean College graduates report a median $38,109 ten years after entry, $4,462 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 Dean College?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Berklee College of Music, against 54% at Dean 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.