True College Verdict
D

The New England Conservatory of Music

Boston, MA · 393 undergraduates · 11% receive Pell Grants · admits 41%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 1,105 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 41.5 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $50,840 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
79% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Mixed
Graduates owe a typical $21,750 against earnings of $40,481, a ratio of 0.54. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

Student reviews are coming soon

We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.

Why it is good

  • 79% of students graduate, better than 86% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 88% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 83% of four-year colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $40,481, lower than 92% of four-year colleges.
  • Earnings trail expectations by about $36,315 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $21,750 in federal loans against earnings of $40,481.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $50,840 a year after grants, more than at 99% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
79%
Better than 86% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
88%
Better than 83% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$40,481
Better than 8% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$21,750
Better than 10% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$50,840
Better than 1% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$63,410
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Music105$11,851$23,500

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.