New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
New England Conservatory of Music Featured Rankings
About New England Conservatory of Music
According to Wikipedia, The New England Conservatory of Music is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. The conservatory is located on Huntington Avenue along the Avenue of the Arts near Boston Symphony Hall, and is home to approximately 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies, and 1,500 more in its Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education. NEC offers bachelor's degrees in instrumental and vocal classical music performance, contemporary musical arts, composition, jazz studies, music history, and music theory, as well as graduate degrees in collaborative piano, conducting, and musicology. The conservatory has also partnered with Harvard University and Tufts University to create joint double-degree, five-year programs.
New England Conservatory of Music Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 959 | 41% | 88% | 74% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does New England Conservatory of Music Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $63,410 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $45,263 |
| 30K - 48K | $56,911 |
| 48K - 75K | $43,577 |
| 75K - 110K | $51,447 |
| 110K+ | $52,556 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do New England Conservatory of Music Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former New England Conservatory of Music students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $40,481 a year, and 89% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
New England Conservatory of Music's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 826 | 402 | 424 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is New England Conservatory of Music?
New England Conservatory of Music is located at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115-5018.
How Safe is New England Conservatory of Music?
Relative to its enrollment, New England Conservatory of Music has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of 0.23%. Boston has a violent crime rate of 0.63% and a property crime rate of 2.03%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is New England Conservatory of Music Known For?
New England Conservatory of Music is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
Who Are New England Conservatory of Music's Most Influential Alumni?
New England Conservatory of Music's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Communications, Philosophy, and History. Here are some of New England Conservatory of Music's most famous alumni:
- Coretta Scott King
- An American author, activist, and civil rights leader. Coretta Scott King is wife of Martin Luther King, Jr..
- Rose Kennedy
- An American philanthropist and mother of John F. Kennedy.
- Sarah Caldwell
- An American opera conductor, impresario, and stage director .
- Andy Hamilton
- A British saxophonist.
- Cecil Taylor
- An American jazz pianist and poet .
- Bernie Worrell
- An American musician.
- Xiang Gao
- A Chinese violinist.
- Dave Holland
- A British jazz musician.
- Alan Hovhaness
- An Armenian-American composer .
- Nick Ingman
- An English musician.
- Halim El-Dabh
- An American composer .
- Darryl Jones
- An American bassist.
Who Are New England Conservatory of Music's Most Influential Faculty?
New England Conservatory of Music's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Communications, Philosophy, and History. Here are some of New England Conservatory of Music's most famous faculty:
- Ethan Iverson
- An American pianist.
- Matthew Hoch
- An American academic.
- Carla Kihlstedt
- An American violinist, singer and composer.
- Dafnis Prieto
- A Cuban composer, educator and jazz drummer.
- Paul Katz
- An American musician.
- Sara Jobin
- An American music conductor.
- Konstantinos Papadakis
- A Greek pianist.
- Elizabeth Rowe
- An American flutist.
- Kati Agócs
- An American-Canadian composer.
- Mátti Kovler
- A Composer.
- Carol Rodland
- An American musician.
