Berklee College of Music vs Massachusetts College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Massachusetts College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $43,582 against a $96,400 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Massachusetts College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $24,100 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $96,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $43,582 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,755 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$191,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Massachusetts College of Art and Design?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, at $24,100 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $25,365 a year, or $101,460 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates report a median $43,582 ten years after entry, $9,935 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design?
Berklee College of Music: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,755 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, a difference of $755. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, against 67% at Berklee College of Music. 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.