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The New England Conservatory of Music

Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5018

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitUrbanInternational

Close-knit campus

The New England Conservatory of Music is a private urban institution in Boston, Massachusetts. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 371 undergraduates with a 5:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

78% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $34,483 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $42,556.

Campus Visits

26 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Visit

Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

290 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

(617) 585-1101[email protected]
43%Acceptance
SAT Avg
371Students
5:1Student:Faculty
78%Grad Rate
$34,483Earnings 10yr
$42,556Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate42.8%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-RequiredTracks InterestOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common ApplicationDirect Application

Early Decision

December 1

Regular Decision

January 15

Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$58,550
Room & Board$19,287
Books & Supplies$500
Total Cost of Attendance$77,870
Average Net Price$42,556
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$26,175
$48–75K$33,525
$75–110K$46,237
$110K+$49,187

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

75.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Semester
Majors
30
Avg class size
8
Student-faculty ratio
5:1

Programs (6)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

94%

Positive

Campus Life

Greek Life

Performance-focused conservatory; no varsity athletics

Housing & Residential Life

Guaranteed for first-year students

Housing Styles

Traditional residence hallsPractice room suitesApartment-style living

Dining

Student Body

Undergrads
371
Gender Split
45% / 55%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
8%

Race & Ethnicity

White 36%
Black 2%
Hispanic 2%
Asian 11%
Two+ 9%
Int'l 41%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate77.8%
Freshman Retention93.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$18,830
10 Years$34,483

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Notable Alumni

Gunther Schuller

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and conductor

Aoife O'Donovan

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter

Esperanza Spalding

Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist and vocalist

Victor Wooten

Five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist

Donald Erb

Renowned contemporary composer

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

152Very High

Estimated from MA state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K
2 mi(3 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
188 mi(326 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
269 mi(466 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

BOS Boston Logan4 mi
MHT Manchester-Boston45 mi
PVD Providence TF Green46 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2 mi · ~3 min drive
New York, NY188 mi · ~5h 26m drive
Hartford, CT91 mi · ~2h 38m drive
Providence, RI39 mi · ~1h 8m drive
Albany, NY138 mi · ~3h 59m drive
Syracuse, NY262 mi · ~7h 34m drive
Rochester, NY336 mi · ~9h 42m drive
Buffalo, NY398 mi · ~11h 30m drive
Philadelphia, PA269 mi · ~7h 46m drive
Pittsburgh, PA480 mi · ~13h 52m drive
Harrisburg, PA333 mi · ~9h 37m drive
Newark, NJ194 mi · ~5h 36m drive
Trenton, NJ240 mi · ~6h 56m drive
Central (cold winters, warm summers)

Nearby Attractions

Symphony Hallwalkable

Home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, adjacent to campus

Museum of Fine Artswalkable

World-class art museum with extensive collections

Fenway Parkwalkable

Historic baseball stadium, home of the Red Sox

Back Baywalkable

Historic neighborhood with shopping and dining

Transfer Admission

International Students

The New England Conservatory of Music Application Checklist

Decision Notifications