Berklee College of Music vs Roxbury Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Roxbury Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,773 against a $24,488 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Roxbury Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $12,244 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $24,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $38,773 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$216,228 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Roxbury Community College?
Roxbury Community College, at $12,244 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $37,221 a year, or $173,372 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 Roxbury Community College graduates earn more?
Roxbury Community College graduates report a median $38,773 ten years after entry, $5,126 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 graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Berklee College of Music, against 28% at Roxbury 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.