Scholarships

Berklee Institutional Scholarships and Grants

Berklee awards more than $115 million annually in institutional scholarships and grants to students from Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, and Berklee Online. Approximately 40 percent of entering campus students are awarded institutional aid, with an average award covering 40 percent of tuition.

Scholarships for Entering Students

Merit-Based Scholarships

All entering undergraduate and graduate students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships as part of the admissions process when applying to the College, Conservatory, and Berklee NYC. Berklee Valencia graduate applicants submit a scholarship application within their admissions application portal. Berklee College of Music students also have the opportunity to submit materials within their admissions application to have their songwriting and composition abilities considered.

Undergraduate scholarships are awarded for up to eight total semesters of enrollment to cover a single major*, and are automatically renewed each semester provided students are meeting the terms and conditions of their scholarship.

*Students who elect to declare a dual major should prepare prepare to pay for semesters beyond the length of their scholarship.

Presidential and Full-Tuition Scholarships

Presidential Scholarship

Each year, the college selects a very limited number of the top entering musicians to receive this scholarship. Students who receive a Presidential Scholarship are automatically nominated and selected, based on their audition and financial need, and are notified individually by the Office of Admissions prior to the deposit deadline each year.

The scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition, on-campus housing, the meal plan, laptop*, software, major bundles, and the comprehensive fee**, is renewed each year, for a total of eight semesters to cover a single major*** and follows the standard scholarship policy. The Presidential Scholarship does not cover the cost of off-campus housing.

*Only Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholars receive the laptop portion of their scholarship in their first semester. Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presidential Scholars do not receive the laptop, but will receive an iPad.

**Health insurance, travel, books, and miscellaneous fees are not included.

***Students who elect to declare a dual major should prepare to pay for semesters beyond the length of their scholarship.

No additional application or request for consideration is necessary, but students must have a FAFSA and/or CSS Profile on file.

Full-Tuition Scholarships

While the vast majority of scholarships awarded are partial-tuition, a limited number of full-tuition awards are available to exceptionally qualified applicants. These scholarships are awarded based on the strength of an applicant's audition and interview, are renewed each year for a total of eight semesters to cover a single major*, and follow the standard scholarship policy.

No additional application or request for consideration is necessary.

*Students who elect to declare a dual major should prepare to pay for semesters beyond the length of their scholarship.

Institutional Need-Based Grants

Domestic entering undergraduate students who submit a CSS Profile by the posted deadlines will automatically be considered for need-based institutional grants. Because Berklee need-based funding is limited, students who demonstrate high financial need are given priority. Need-based grants are renewed each year, for a total of eight semesters to cover a single major* and follows the standard scholarship policy.

Entering international students are not eligible to receive institutional need-based aid, but should explore our international students financing page for other options to finance their education.

*Students who elect to declare a dual major should prepare to pay for semesters beyond the length of their scholarship.

Scholarships for Continuing Students

Continuing undergraduate campus students are automatically considered for specific awards during their tenure with Berklee, such as the Thrive Scholarship and division awards.

Berklee Online continuing students can apply for a scholarship if they've earned 90 credits towards an online degree and meet the other eligibility criteria.

Thrive Scholarship

The Thrive Scholarship is an initiative designed to invest in continuing undergraduate students who have demonstrated academic achievement, demonstrated financial need, and are on track to graduate on time.

Continuing undergraduate Boston campus students should ensure they have a CSS Profile on file to be considered for the Thrive Scholarship. Boston Conservatory domestic students should have a FAFSA on file.

Please visit the Thrive Scholarship page above for more details.

Division Awards

Division awards are given to Berklee College of Music students demonstrating high academic and artistic achievement within their respective academic divisions. These relatively small awards are generally decided in the spring semester and issued based on academic division. Students who are eligible will be notified.

Berklee Institutional Aid Appeal Grants

We recognize that due to extenuating circumstances you may experience temporary challenges affecting your financing plan. Berklee allows all campus-based students to submit an institutional aid appeal to be considered for temporary need-based institutional funding. Domestic students are encouraged to FAFSA on file and exhaust all other forms of funding, and international students must have a CSS Profile on file for their appeal to be considered.

Berklee Online students are not eligible to submit a special circumstance appeal.