The New England Conservatory of Music

What are the graduation rates for students at The New England Conservatory of Music?

NEC's reported six-year graduation rate is 73% for the relevant cohort of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduates. Its reported four-year rate is 47%. These measures follow entering cohorts over different periods; they do not mean that the remaining students all dropped out, and they do not describe every graduate student or transfer applicant.

The reported first-year retention rate is 88%, measuring how many eligible first-time students returned the following fall. Together, the figures suggest that many students continue after year one, while finishing within four years is less common than finishing within six. A prospective student can use a program-specific degree plan to see how required courses, ensemble participation, and recital timing affect a realistic graduation schedule.

What is the earning potential for graduates at The New England Conservatory of Music?

A College Scorecard program-level figure reports $10,847 in earnings for music one year after completion. This is an early-career measure for a defined group of former students, not a salary promised to NEC graduates or a measure of everyone who studied music there.

Scorecard earnings measures generally rely on matched federal records for students who received federal aid, so coverage and cohort definitions matter. The figure alone does not describe unpaid work, further study, self-employment that is not fully reflected in the measure, later career earnings, or differences among performers, teachers, composers, and other music professionals. Applicants weighing the expense of a degree should treat it as one limited outcome indicator and compare it with their likely borrowing and career plans.