Music bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$4,275 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
64.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−117% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$243,830
$14,000Annual price−$299,830
$28,000Annual price−$355,830
$42,000Annual price−$411,830
$49,000Current college-wide context−$439,830
$56,000Annual price−$467,830
$70,000Annual price−$523,830
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+84%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$18,177 → $33,368158Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort69Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort349Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median471Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$94,046Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential15Recent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
2,777Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment339Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers1,151Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count2,046Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
8.0%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 231 non-completers388Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$38,617$3,809 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 440 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$49,465
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$24,979
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$38,617
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$265/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$18,177Year 1
$38,617Year 4
$33,368Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
8.2% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$3,218
Estimated loan payment$265
471borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$38,617 vs. $42,892
$4,275 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$85,820 median wageMA estimate · 4,960 jobs · 25-1121$65,760–$111,710 middle 50% of MA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 680 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17,400 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$78,620 median wageMA estimate · 340 jobs · 27-2041$63,800–$114,150 middle 50% of MA wages+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$95,260 median wageMA estimate · 28,460 jobs · 25-2031$77,890–$102,530 middle 50% of MA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSound Engineering Technicians$63,250 median wageMA estimate · 200 jobs · 27-4014$51,190–$113,710 middle 50% of MA wages-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardDisc Jockeys, Except RadioNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 150 jobs · 27-2091+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 1,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Boston, MA
Northeastern University
$22,357 higher earnings · $18,550 lower annual net price