Head-to-head comparison
Berklee College of Music vs Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Berklee College of Music
- Net price / year
- $49,465
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,647
- Payback
- No payback
Option B North Adams, MA
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Net price / year
- $16,068
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,102
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts comes closer — median earnings $48,102 against a $64,272 total, vs $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berklee College of Music | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,465 | $16,068 |
| Total net cost | $197,860 | $64,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,647 | $48,102 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$492,120 | -$69,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Berklee College of Music or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, at $16,068 a year after aid versus $49,465 — a gap of $33,397 a year, or $133,588 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Berklee College of Music or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates report a median $48,102 ten years after entry, $14,455 more than the $33,647 at Berklee College of Music. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Berklee College of Music or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts?
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: its completers carry a median $23,750 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Berklee College of Music, a difference of $1,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Berklee College of Music, against 56% at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.