Berklee College of Music vs The New England Conservatory of Music: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The New England Conservatory of Music comes closer — median earnings $34,483 against a $187,016 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | The New England Conservatory of Music |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $46,754 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $187,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $34,483 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$464,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or The New England Conservatory of Music?
The New England Conservatory of Music, at $46,754 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $2,711 a year, or $10,844 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 The New England Conservatory of Music graduates earn more?
The New England Conservatory of Music graduates report a median $34,483 ten years after entry, $836 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 The New England Conservatory of Music?
Berklee College of Music: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at The New England Conservatory of Music, 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?
73% of students finish at The New England Conservatory of Music, 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.