Berklee College of Music vs Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Berklee College of Music comes closer — median earnings $33,647 against a $197,860 total, vs $27,803 at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $31,895 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $127,580 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $27,803 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$538,720 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth?
Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth, at $31,895 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $17,570 a year, or $70,280 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 Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth graduates earn more?
Berklee College of Music graduates report a median $33,647 ten years after entry, $5,844 more than the $27,803 at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth. 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 Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth?
Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Berklee College of Music, a difference of $18,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth, 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.