Berklee College of Music vs Montserrat College of Art: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montserrat College of Art comes closer — median earnings $33,022 against a $132,864 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Montserrat College of Art |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $33,216 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $132,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $33,022 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$439,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Montserrat College of Art?
Montserrat College of Art, at $33,216 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $16,249 a year, or $64,996 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 Montserrat College of Art graduates earn more?
Berklee College of Music graduates report a median $33,647 ten years after entry, $625 more than the $33,022 at Montserrat College of Art. 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 Montserrat College of Art?
Berklee College of Music: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Montserrat College of Art, a difference of $2,000. 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 53% at Montserrat College of Art. 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.