Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 62/100

Manhattan School of Music

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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New York, New York

About Manhattan School of Music

Manhattan School of Music is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in New York, New York. It enrolls 539 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
40.8%
Graduation
58.3%
Net Price
$51,754
Median Earnings (10yr)
$26,878
Enrollment
539
Student : Faculty
6:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 89
Value 0
Affordability 2
Selectivity 89

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 40.8%, Manhattan School of Music is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate
40.8%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Manhattan School of Music is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable 4.4 pts since 2019
35.5%201941.6%202049%202155%202239.9%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Manhattan School of Music isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $51,754 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$51,754
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$57,050
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,050
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,050
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$77,703

Application fee: $125 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $31,392
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $38,143
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $46,638
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $48,042
  • Over $110,000
    $56,540

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500
10% percentile
$10,298
25% percentile
$26,994
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$33,562
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $26,899
No Pell $19,500 ↓ $7,494
Female students $26,000 ↓ $994
Male students $23,125 ↓ $3,869
Pell recipients: 28.2% (7,601 students)No Pell: 20.4% (5,510 students)Female students: 27.2% (7,347 students)Male students: 24.2% (6,535 students)Overall Median$26,994
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,625, less than completers ($26,994), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

58% of full-time students who enrolled at Manhattan School of Music graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
93%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Manhattan School of Music earn a median of $26,878 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$26,878
Earning > $25K
43%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$15,000$20,000$30,000$35,000$40,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 5.1 pts across 6 years
68.2%1yr68.6%3yr73.2%5yr
What this signals: Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Manhattan School of Music is home to 539 students, a small, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
539
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 36.9% 199
International 34.0% 183
Hispanic 11.1% 60
Asian 8.0% 43
Other 5.6% 30
Black 3.5% 19
White: 36.9% (199 students)International: 34.0% (183 students)Hispanic: 11.1% (60 students)Asian: 8.0% (43 students)Other: 5.6% (30 students)Black: 3.5% (19 students)Total539

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Manhattan School of Music. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City New York, New York
Housing
Strongly residential 600 beds for 539 students
Adult Learners
3% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Manhattan School of Music offers a focused set of programs: 4 distinct programs across 1 major. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

4 Programs
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
  • Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Manhattan School of Music is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$82M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,972
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

79 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 79 100% $74,972

Pros & Cons of Manhattan School of Music

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Manhattan School of Music tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • High net price compared to most US colleges
  • Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Best for: Based on the data, Manhattan School of Music is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Manhattan School of Music

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Manhattan School of Music.

Is Manhattan School of Music hard to get into?
Manhattan School of Music is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 40.8%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Manhattan School of Music?
Manhattan School of Music has an acceptance rate of 40.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Manhattan School of Music cost?
The average net price after aid at Manhattan School of Music is $51,754 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Manhattan School of Music worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $26,878 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $51,754 per year. That's roughly 0.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Manhattan School of Music known for?
Manhattan School of Music is best known for its programs in Music, Music, Music. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Manhattan School of Music graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Manhattan School of Music are $26,878, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Manhattan School of Music accredited?
Yes. Manhattan School of Music is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Manhattan School of Music?
Manhattan School of Music enrolls 539 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Manhattan School of Music?
Manhattan School of Music graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Manhattan School of Music a public or private college?
Manhattan School of Music is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Manhattan School of Music located?
Manhattan School of Music is located in New York, New York.
What programs does Manhattan School of Music offer?
Manhattan School of Music offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Music, Music.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Manhattan School of Music?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Manhattan School of Music is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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