by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Berklee College of Music first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Berklee College of Music. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 89% students making it past their freshmen year, Berklee College of Music has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | 89% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
There were approximately 1317 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Berklee College of Music graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1014 | 45% |
| Six Years | 1317 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 52 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 869 | 39% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 869 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 869 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
280 transferred to another institution.
Berklee College of Music lost contact with the remaining 573 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 280 | 32.2% |
| Dropped Out | 573 | 65.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 63% |
| Black / African-American | 59% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 73% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 66% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Berklee College of Music are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Berklee College of Music represent 65.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Berklee College of Music graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 68% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Berklee College of Music | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 67% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 47.82% |
461 first-time / full-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
167 transferred to another institution.
Berklee College of Music lost contact with the remaining 290 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 167 | 36.23% |
| Dropped Out | 290 | 62.91% |
First-time / part-time students at Berklee College of Music represent 5.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Berklee College of Music graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 26% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Berklee College of Music | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
89 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Berklee College of Music lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.25% |
| Transferred | 18 | 20.22% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 77.53% |
Returning / full-time students at Berklee College of Music represent 15.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Berklee College of Music graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 67% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Berklee College of Music | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
112 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
Berklee College of Music lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.89% |
| Transferred | 34 | 30.36% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 68.75% |
Returning / part-time students at Berklee College of Music represent 14.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Berklee College of Music graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 35% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Berklee College of Music | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
207 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Berklee College of Music lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 61 | 29.47% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 66.18% |
