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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Berklee
Decision sheet

Massachusetts · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Berklee awards all merit scholarships automatically through the admissions audition/interview process — there is no separate application, no published GPA/test grid, and no way to reaudition for more money later.

Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 4 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Amount not published · Published award terms

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Strength of admissions application (audition, interview, academics, and/or original compositions); automatic consideration with admission application

Renewal: 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. Per FAQ, standard scholarship recipients must at least meet SAP standards: CGPA of 2.0 and completion percentage of 70.

Other terms: No dollar amounts or stat grid are published; awards are holistic/audition-based. Most awards are partial tuition.

https://www.berklee.edu/scholarships

Presidential Scholarship

Full tuition + on-campus housing, meal plan, laptop, software, major bundles, and comprehensive fee · Published coverage or package

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Automatically nominated and selected based on audition AND financial need; must have a FAFSA and/or CSS Profile on file

Renewal: Renewed each year, for a total of eight semesters to cover a single major, and follows the standard scholarship policy.

Other terms: Very limited number of top entering musicians. Does NOT cover off-campus housing, health insurance, travel, books, or miscellaneous fees — it is not a full cost-of-attendance ride.

https://www.berklee.edu/scholarships

Full-Tuition Scholarships

Full tuition · Published coverage or package

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Awarded based on the strength of an applicant's audition and interview; no additional application

Renewal: Renewed each year for a total of eight semesters to cover a single major; follows the standard scholarship policy.

Other terms: Limited number; the vast majority of Berklee scholarships are partial-tuition. Full tuition only — not housing, food, or fees.

https://www.berklee.edu/scholarships

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Berklee does not publish an outside-scholarship displacement order on its public pages. The cost-of-attendance page states that total aid from all sources (grants, scholarships, loans) cannot exceed cost of attendance, and the scholarship policy states institutional scholarships are never increased beyond the initial award.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/berklee-college-of-music/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.