Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, founded in 1945 and located in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee focuses on jazz, pop, rock, electronic music, production, songwriting, film scoring, and music business rather than classical conservatory training. With over 8,000 students across its Boston and Valencia campuses, Berklee has produced more Grammy-winning alumni than any other contemporary music school.

Programs and Majors

Berklee offers 12 undergraduate majors across its Boston campus:

• Performance: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Voice, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, and Hand Percussion
• Songwriting: Lyric writing, melody construction, and song analysis across genres
• Music Production & Engineering: Recording, mixing, and mastering in Berklee's 13 professional studios
• Film Scoring: Composition for film, television, and video games, including a 60-piece student recording orchestra
• Electronic Production & Design: Synthesis, sound design, and electronic music production
• Music Business & Management: Record label operations, publishing, touring, and artist management
• Music Therapy: Clinical applications of music in healthcare and education settings
• Composition: Contemporary classical, jazz, and experimental composition
• Contemporary Writing & Production: Arranging and producing for ensembles and studio sessions
• Jazz Composition: Advanced jazz arranging and composition for large and small ensembles
• Music Education: K-12 music teaching certification and pedagogy
• Professional Music: Self-designed major letting students combine multiple areas of study

Berklee also offers graduate programs at its Boston, New York City, and Valencia, Spain campuses, including a Master of Music in Music Production, Technology & Innovation and a Master of Arts in Global Entertainment & Music Business.

Tuition and Costs (2026-2027)

For the 2026-2027 academic year, Berklee's Board of Trustees approved a 3% increase across all programs:

• Undergraduate degree tuition and mandatory fees: $55,620 per year ($27,010 per semester for fall and spring)
• Undergraduate diploma tuition and mandatory fees: $46,520 per year ($23,260 per semester)
• On-campus housing with full meal plan: $21,300 per year ($10,650 per semester)
• Health insurance (waivable with proof of comparable coverage): $2,781 per year
• Total estimated cost of attendance (degree, on-campus): $85,817 per year

Application fee is $150 (nonrefundable). Tuition deposit is $1,000, credited toward first-semester charges. Per-credit tuition for part-time study or overload is $1,965 per credit.

Campuses and Global Reach

Berklee operates three physical campuses:

• Boston: The main campus, housing all undergraduate programs and the majority of graduate programs
• Valencia, Spain: First Year Abroad program, study abroad for continuing students, and graduate programs in music production and global entertainment business
• New York City: Graduate programs in music production and creative media technology

Berklee Online serves over 20,000 students annually with individual courses, certificate programs, and fully online degree programs, making it one of the largest online music education platforms in the world.

Notable Alumni

Berklee alumni have won over 300 Grammy Awards. Notable graduates include:

• Quincy Jones: Producer of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the best-selling album of all time
• John Mayer: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Charlie Puth: Pop artist and producer with multiple Billboard Hot 100 hits
• Melissa Etheridge: Grammy and Academy Award-winning rock artist
• St. Vincent (Annie Clark): Grammy-winning art rock guitarist and songwriter
• Aimee Mann: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
• Howard Shore: Academy Award-winning film composer (The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
• Derek Bermel: Grammy-nominated composer and clarinetist

Admission and Audition Process

Admission to Berklee requires a live or recorded audition and an interview. The audition assesses instrumental or vocal proficiency, improvisation ability, sight-reading, and ear training. Berklee does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. The school evaluates applicants on musical potential, not just technical proficiency, which means self-taught musicians with strong creative portfolios can be admitted alongside classically trained performers.

Application deadlines typically fall in November for early action and January for regular decision. International students follow the same timeline but must also demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Who Should Apply

Berklee is the right choice for musicians who want to study contemporary music (jazz, pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop) at a professional level, or who want to build careers in music production, songwriting, film scoring, or music business. The school is less suited for students seeking classical conservatory training (consider the Boston Conservatory at Berklee or other conservatories for that path). Berklee's large student body and extensive alumni network make it one of the best places to build industry connections, but the high tuition means students should carefully evaluate financial aid options before enrolling.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate how streaming revenue works for performing artists and producers
• Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue strategies including production and songwriting income
• Publishing Royalty Split Calculator - Calculate splits for co-writing sessions common at Berklee
• Boston Conservatory at Berklee - Berklee's classical conservatory division
• Berklee College of Music Official Website - Current admission requirements, audition details, and program catalogs