Berklee College of Music vs Northern Essex Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northern Essex Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,862 against a $12,092 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Northern Essex Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $6,046 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $12,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $42,862 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$122,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Northern Essex Community College?
Northern Essex Community College, at $6,046 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $43,419 a year, or $185,768 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 Northern Essex Community College graduates earn more?
Northern Essex Community College graduates report a median $42,862 ten years after entry, $9,215 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 Northern Essex Community College?
Northern Essex Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Berklee College of Music, a difference of $16,000. 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 21% at Northern Essex 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.