2024 Best Colleges for Music in Massachusetts

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  59 reviews

Sophomore: New England conservatory has phenomenal performance coachings and ensemble-based classes are why you would want to come to this school. However, there are problems that can come with the school, such as administrative inefficiency, and infrastructure is typically under construction always.... Read 59 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 43%

• Net price $38,409

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  1,181 reviews

Freshman: I love Berklee. It's definitely not for everybody, though. The classes are hard, and if you have the right combination of professors it's a LOT of work. It's extremely, EXTREMELY expensive. It doesn't offer a lot of financial resources for international students even though it's probably 40% international. A large amount of people who go here are just children of rich parents who got accepted and don't have anything better to do. But when it's great, it's great. You could go to amazing free performances every night of the week. If you have the right professors, there is everything to learn in your niche and then some. There is a team of career advisors that have endless resources for you. I have made the best and most like minded friends of my life, and I would trade my one semester here so far for nothing. I was already excited for my future, but this school has completely flipped my life upside down in terms of what I thought possible. If you're lucky enough to have the money, GO!... Read 1,181 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 55%

• Net price $48,055

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  3,583 reviews

Sophomore: I really enjoyed my time there! There are a lot of events for different types of people, like women and non-binary rock-climbing events, Asian student get-togethers, community fast breaking for Muslim students, Questbridge scholar movie nights, and many more. One thing I would like to see change is better advertisement and outreach for extracurriculars and clubs. Other than during Splash, it is difficult to see what kinds of different groups are doing and if you can join.... Read 3,583 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $25,852

• SAT range 1360-1520

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  4,567 reviews

Freshman: I find the University of Massachusetts Amherst a very open en welcoming university. As an international student, it can be hard to be far away from home, but I believe UMass Amherst does a great job in making students feel at home; UMass has a close community of students who genuinely care for each other. Generally, I think studying at UMass Amherst is the best choice I have ever made. Every aspect of my college life is better then I could ever imagine - I have the chance to play sport competitively, get education at a high level and connect with a lot of special and interesting people. And of course enjoy the best dining halls of the country!... Read 4,567 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $17,291

• SAT range 1250-1460

• Lowell, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  1,418 reviews

Graduate Student: The last three years have been challenging yet rewarding as an IT student. I've thoroughly enjoyed my coding courses and other classes such as IoT, HTML, and the introduction to Linux/Unix OS. I almost don't want to leave the school! Every time classes start, I feel excited and happy. I'm seriously considering to become a double River Hawk, because of the caliber of education, the experience of the educators, and the school's positive reputation. Furthermore, how transparent the tuition and costs are; no surprises! Therefore, I would recommend this school to any working adults or high school grads.... Read 1,418 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,227

• SAT range 1170-1340

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  1,141 reviews

Sophomore: Emerson College is a hub of students that are open-minded, hard-working, and endlessly creative. The students and professors are often friendly and accepting, and the campus being in the heart of Boston would be fun for any college student looking to explore a historical and buzzing city. The only real downside to Emerson in my experience has been the increasing cost of tuition. If you come here, make sure you're invested in a career that points toward the arts or communication to get your money's worth!... Read 1,141 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 45%

• Net price $48,842

• SAT range 1200-1400

• Worcester, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  571 reviews

Alum: Extremely competitive school from day 1. But - that fosters personal growth! Loved how many service-oriented opportunities there were. This was clearly a strong emphasis in the school's Jesuit identity. When HC says that faculty are there to help, it is not just an empty, overly-stated phrase. As an alum, I still reach out to faculty for advice on the job market and graduate school admissions. Truly thankful that HC has invested so much in recruiting and retaining world-class professors.... Read 571 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 43%

• Net price $29,198

• SAT range 1240-1420

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  814 reviews

Freshman: Currently, I'm a student at Simmons University. While there's a lot wrong with the school (...Bartol), there are also some great things. All of my professors have been very dedicated to seeing me succeed, and are willing to put in extra time and effort to help me. Everyone I've met is either extremely friendly, or at least cordial, and I've made some of my best friends here. The dorms aren't great, but they also aren't awful. You can put in a work order, and usually, things get fixed. If you decorate, it will feel less like a jail cell. This school is STEM-focused, so humanities majors may find resources lacking, but the professors in humanities departments will acknowledge this. It's also great for LGBT students, as you won't be the minority. However, for POC students, there is work to be done. There are a lot of events specifically for POC students, though! Don't come if you're looking to party all the time. You have to go to MIT/BU frats, and the uber charges rack up fast!... Read 814 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $19,026

• SAT range 1140-1360

• Wenham, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  800 reviews

Senior: Gordon has a phenomenal Kinesiology department. The professors really make an effort to get to know each student and build a relationship with them. Gordon College is also one of the few undergraduate schools in which offer cadaver labs. This is the big thing that made me choose this school! Many undergraduate programs offer pro-section cadaver labs. Gordon College, however, allows students to dissect themselves! This college has prepped me significantly for graduate school.... Read 800 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 93%

• Net price $25,917

• SAT range 1020-1370

• Quincy, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  318 reviews

Senior: Eastern Nazarene College is a great place! I have made lifelong friends here at ENC, and the faculty and staff are amazing. It may be a small campus, but because of that I was able to form strong friendships not only with my peers, but also with my professors. It is worthwhile. All my teachers know me by name and have helped me through all of my struggles in order to finish my classes well and understand everything they are teaching me. It is very important to soak up all the information so it can help you in life and in your future career. I messed up a lot and I failed a lot but I had people here with me along the way giving me exactly what I needed to succeed. They value their students, a faith biased community and support us all in our walk with Christ. At ENC we are home, coming together in the spirit with people who support you and encourage you and build you up. Anyone is welcome here. ENC helped me find my purpose and it can help you find yours as well.... Read 318 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $19,901

• SAT range 900-1220

• Pittsfield, MA•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  102 reviews

Freshman: I first began taking courses at BCC, in my jr year of high school, continued through the summer, and finished my dual enrollment in December of my senior year. I was able to experience a Personal Communications course in my Jr year of high school, which was one of the most fun and intriguing experience. Me and two of my other friends took the course and we loved it, up until covid came and we went fully online. I also took a summer course in Sociology, which was just as fun, just online. I was originally planning on beginning my college journey at a University, but due to the pandemic, I found that staying local was my best option, especially considering the amazing community college that was available for me. I personally have taken part in an online course for my first full semesters and have enjoyed every minute. I have used and gone on campuses multiple times, and as a new student, I was introduced to so many welcoming and amazing staff that helped endlessly.... Read 102 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,857

• SAT range —

• Cambridge, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  18 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Acceptance rate 89%

• Net price $37,540

• SAT range —