Manhattan School of Music vs Berklee

When it comes to choosing the right music school, Manhattan School of Music and Berklee College of Music stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the world. While both schools offer exceptional music education, there are some key differences that set them apart. Manhattan School of Music, located in the heart of New York City, has a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a more intimate learning environment. Berklee College of Music, situated in Boston, boasts a larger and more diverse student body, providing a vibrant and multicultural atmosphere. With different popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics, the choice between these two esteemed music schools ultimately depends on individual preferences and aspirations. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which institution aligns best with your unique musical journey.

	Berklee College of Music	Manhattan School of Music
Overview
Location	Boston, Massachusetts	New York, New York
Campus setting	City: Large	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	82.0%	86.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	55.2%	49.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $150 Graduate: $150	Undergraduate: $125 Graduate: $125
SAT range	N/A	N/A
ACT range	N/A	N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants	7,266	1,035
Total number of admissions given out	4,009	507
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,707	121
Yield rate	42.6%	23.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$63,970	$72,780
Average net price	$48,055	$42,578
Tuition	$45,468	$49,850
Room & board	$18,828	Room/dormitory: $10,790 Meal plan: $5,550
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	94.0% Average amount $17,013	81.0% Average amount $23,606
Students receiving federal student loan	36.0% Average amount $5,220	69.0% Average amount $52,419
Students taking out private loans	12.0% Average amount $27,360	11.0% Average amount $27,139

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	7,177 Men 58.1% Women 41.9%	500 Men 50.8% Women 49.2%
Graduate students	766 Men 53.8% Women 46.2%	547 Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	75.0%
International students	25.8%	48.5%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,417	536
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	New York California Pennsylvania Florida New Jersey

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts Engineering Technologies Computer and Information Science Health Professions Education	Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	10:1	6:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	67.0%	72.3%
Dropout rate	21.6%	12.5%
Transferred out	9.9%	14.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $34,704 Year 3: $45,051 Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,786 Year 2: $31,914 Year 3: $40,006 Music (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $26,503 Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: $28,820 Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,397 Year 2: $16,786 Year 3: $26,596 Music (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,512 Year 2: $22,162 Year 3: $23,540 Dance (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $19,273 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: N/A Music (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas) Year 1: $20,239 Year 2: $16,478 Year 3: N/A Music (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $23,206 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Music (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $19,385 Year 2: $24,228 Year 3: $26,210 Music (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,620 Year 2: $13,393 Year 3: $18,735 Music (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $18,154 Year 3: N/A

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Berklee

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