Berklee College of Music vs Urban College of Boston: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Urban College of Boston comes closer — median earnings $35,472 against a $13,914 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Urban College of Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $6,957 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $13,914 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $35,472 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$271,674 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Urban College of Boston?
Urban College of Boston, at $6,957 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $42,508 a year, or $183,946 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 Urban College of Boston graduates earn more?
Urban College of Boston graduates report a median $35,472 ten years after entry, $1,825 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 0% at Urban College of Boston. 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.