Berklee College of Music vs American University

Berklee College of Music and American University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: American University is more selective with a 47.4% acceptance rate compared to Berklee College of Music's 49.9%.

Cost: American University offers a lower average net price at $41,945, which is $8,459 less than Berklee College of Music ($50,404). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from American University earn a median salary of $77,370 ten years after enrollment, which is $43,723 more than Berklee College of Music graduates ($33,647).

Graduation: American University leads with a 79.0% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 85.4% vs 86.2%.

Campus Size: American University is the larger campus with 7,593 total students, while Berklee College of Music has 7,510.

Bottom Line: American University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.