Private not-for-profit

Medium

Berklee College of Music SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT RangeN/A

ACT RangeN/A

Average GPAN/A

Acceptance Rate43.5%

Berklee’s test-optional policy does not mean scores are irrelevant: with a 43.5% acceptance rate, a strong SAT or ACT can still add useful academic evidence. Aim to submit scores only if they clearly strengthen your profile alongside your audition, portfolio, and musical accomplishments.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Berklee College of Music facts and stats

Quick Facts

Berklee College of Music enrolls 7,549 undergraduates in an urban campus setting. Berklee has an 89% freshman retention rate, above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 67%. The student-to-faculty ratio is 9.1:1.

Location

Boston, MA

Undergrad Enrollment7,549

Freshman Retention89%

SettingUrban

Student to Faculty Ratio9.1:1

Graduation Rate67%

Test PolicyTest-optional

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Key Berklee College of Music application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

January 15

Early Action

November 1

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

November 1

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

December 1

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit SAT or ACT scores to Berklee, take your first test by the spring of junior year and save the summer before senior year plus the fall for retakes. For the November 1 Early Action deadline, an October retake is typically the last fall sitting likely to arrive in time.

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What you'll actually pay

Berklee is a private not-for-profit, so the same tuition and fees rate applies to all students. Tuition and fees are $52,040, and the average merit award is $21,810. About 20% of students receive aid, and the FAFSA priority deadline is December 1.

Tuition and Fees$52,040

Room and Board$19,930

Average Merit Award$21,810

Application Fee$150

Students on Aid20%

Average Aid Package$34,092

Average Debt at Grad$45,717

For Berklee College of Music, tuition, fees, room, and board total about $71,970. About 20% of students receive aid, with an average aid package of $34,092. Merit aid can be significant, averaging $21,810, and the Berklee College of Music Thrive Scholarship lists a 3.00+ GPA threshold. Students graduate with an average debt of $45,717.