The mission of Berklee College of Music is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in the performing arts.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 38 volunteers and 4,633 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.9M a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$5.2M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $496.8M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $337K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$396.2M
40% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 40% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
32
of 33 voting members
Looks good: 32 of 33 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$460.3M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$464.7M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$591.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$460.3M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$368.6M
FY2021$313.5M
FY2022$384.6M
FY2023$422.1M
FY2024$441.4M
FY2025$460.3M
Expenses
$464.7M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$341.5M
FY2021$321.0M
FY2022$379.2M
FY2023$406.1M
FY2024$448.6M
FY2025$464.7M
Net assets
$591.9M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$348.2M
FY2021$482.6M
FY2022$468.0M
FY2023$492.2M
FY2024$538.3M
FY2025$591.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending May 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1967.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $379.3M Management & general 18% · $83.2M Fundraising 0% · $2.2M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

52 people listed on the 990; $5.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Former President
$1,250,000Pt VII · Sec A
Interim President & Provost
$577,646Pt VII · Sec A
EVP & Chief Strategy Officer
$531,568Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President (end 1/25)
$415,775Pt VII · Sec A
Interim CFO (end 5/25)
$408,403Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President
$401,380Pt VII · Sec A
VP & Chief Information Officer
$356,028Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President
$342,591Pt VII · Sec A

Erica Muhl’s $1.2M as Former President is at the 81st percentile of top reported officer pay among 674 $100M+ education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Erica Muhl$1,250,000$1,717,413$677,751$362,675——
Roger H Brown———$340,265—$598,197
David Bogen$577,646$480,593————
Elizabeth Newman$531,568$457,128$388,077$323,231$295,719$342,639
Richard Hisey—$272,075$454,404$410,344$329,588$361,677
Thomas Riley—$348,669$320,938$291,453$431,544$297,462
Roger Brown————$427,321—
Erin Tunnicliffe$415,775$419,811————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Berklee College of Music INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates and trains students in the performing arts while providing on-campus housing and dining services to support their academic and creative development.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $379.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Education and Instruction

The program is provided to develop the skills and knowledge of students seeking degrees in music, theater, and dance. The college provides outstanding faculty and teaching facilities for over 8,369 students from the us and 134 foreign countries.

$333.6Mprogram expense
02

Berklee online offered accredited degree and certificate programs, as well as individual courses, in music production, performance, songwriting, music business, composition, electronic music, and core music studies, serving approximately 14,000 students.

$33.9Mprogram expense
03

Auxiliary Services

The college has residence hall facilities to provide housing for those students that choose to live at the college. The college also provides meal plans for both students in housing and those commuter students that choose this plan.

$11.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 6 funders$337K
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 33 grants · $582.6M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$113,487,030
Unitemized GrantFY2024$9,384,075
Unitemized GrantFY2024$742,484
Unitemized GrantFY2024$561,061
Unitemized GrantFY2024$117,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$102,380,524
Unitemized GrantFY2023$6,674,538
Unitemized GrantFY2023$954,175
Unitemized GrantFY2023$306,518
Unitemized GrantFY2023$60,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$89,201,805
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,702,301
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,315,920
Unitemized GrantFY2022$386,203
Unitemized GrantFY2022$52,300
Unitemized GrantFY2021$79,398,863
Unitemized GrantFY2021$7,647,561
Unitemized GrantFY2021$2,492,828
See all 33 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$460.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$434.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$6.6M
Money outPt IX
$464.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$379.3M
Managementcol C$83.2M
Fundraisingcol D$2.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$591.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$89.7M
Total assetsLn 16$988.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$396.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
52
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a33
IndependentVI 1b32
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.6M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$434.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$6.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$3.1M
Gains on assetsLn 7$647K
Total revenueLn 12$460.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$89.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$89.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$496.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$309.4M
Other assetsLn 15$69.2M
Total assetsLn 16$988.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$396.2M
Net assetsLn 32$591.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54,633
VolunteersI 638
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$103.5M$89.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$426.4M$496.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$302.6M$309.4M
Total assetsLn 16$953.1M$988.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$414.9M$396.2M
Net assetsLn 32$538.3M$591.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$124.3M$124.3M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.5M$561K$1.2M$740K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$182.6M$137.8M$44.6M$173K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$9.5M$33K$9.4M$30K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$20.9M$15.7M$4.3M$957K
Payroll taxesLn 10$12.7M$9.7M$2.8M$224K
Management feesLn 11a$661K$661K
Legal feesLn 11b$27K$27K
Accounting feesLn 11c$553K$553K
Investment management feesLn 11f$14K$14K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$36.2M$27.8M$8.3M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$9.4M$8.9M$502K
Office expensesLn 13$3.0M$2.0M$1.0M
Information technologyLn 14$10.7M$5.2M$5.5M$17K
RoyaltiesLn 15$2.3M$2.3M
OccupancyLn 16$15.3M$13.5M$1.8M
TravelLn 17$4.3M$3.6M$655K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$94K$56K$39K
InterestLn 20$7.3M$7.2M$12K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$15.7M$15.7M
InsuranceLn 23$72K$72K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5.5M$3.5M$2.0M$15K
All other expensesLn 24e$1.3M$772K$492K$20K
Total functional expensesLn 25$464.7M$379.3M$83.2M$2.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $460.3M$464.7M−$4.3M$591.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $441.4M$448.6M−$7.1M$538.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $422.1M$406.1M$16.0M$492.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $384.6M$379.2M$5.4M$468.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $313.5M$321.0M−$7.5M$482.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $368.6M$341.5M$27.1M$348.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $460,330,866 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $17,431,737$16,015,313
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $412,803,864$434,575,346
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,458,872$6,590,676
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $9,754,024$3,149,531
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $441,448,497$460,330,866
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $110,375,755$124,291,650
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $228,037,389$228,182,706
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $110,145,573$112,195,865
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $448,558,717$464,670,221
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$7,110,220−$4,339,355
Part VI · Governance 32 of 33 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body33
VI-1b Independent voting members32
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $460,330,866 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$28,455 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,723,298
VIII-1e Government grants$4,050,573
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$10,241,442
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,644,906
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$16,015,313
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $434,575,346$434,575,346
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business −$107,483 · Excluded from tax $6,051,164$5,943,681
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $343,683 · Excluded from tax $2,299,646$2,643,329
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsUnrelated business $618,429 · Excluded from tax $28,566$646,995
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$855,383−$855,383
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $1,390,040$1,390,040
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $434,186,105 · Unrelated business $854,629 · Excluded from tax $9,274,819$460,330,866
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $464,670,221 across 23 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $124,291,650$124,291,650
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $560,550 · Management $1,212,293 · Fundraising $739,651$2,512,494
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $137,776,237 · Management $44,645,399 · Fundraising $172,551$182,594,187
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $32,602 · Management $9,412,714 · Fundraising $29,628$9,474,944
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $15,698,438 · Management $4,293,531 · Fundraising $956,920$20,948,889
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $9,664,992 · Management $2,763,199 · Fundraising $224,001$12,652,192
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $660,544$660,544
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $26,794$26,794
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $552,655$552,655
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $14,447$14,447
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $27,825,243 · Management $8,329,868$36,155,111
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $8,873,167 · Management $502,248$9,375,415
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,986,918 · Management $1,016,376$3,003,294
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,183,993 · Management $5,455,597 · Fundraising $16,779$10,656,369
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $2,304,076$2,304,076
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $13,481,168 · Management $1,816,995$15,298,163
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,631,206 · Management $654,835$4,286,041
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $55,892 · Management $38,589$94,481
IX-20 InterestPrograms $7,247,456 · Management $11,544$7,259,000
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $15,697,215$15,697,215
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $72,109$72,109
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,477,870 · Management $1,963,335 · Fundraising $15,000$5,456,205
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $771,773 · Management $492,095 · Fundraising $20,078$1,283,946
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $379,262,231 · Management $83,233,382 · Fundraising $2,174,608$464,670,221
Part X · Balance sheet $988,069,581 assets, 16 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $103,508,450$89,721,035
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $5,611,488$3,744,620
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $17,502,271$19,172,412
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $302,615,548$309,449,193
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $426,384,464$496,821,292
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $97,506,133$69,161,029
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $953,128,354$988,069,581
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $71,820,277$67,949,994
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $54,822,043$54,052,056
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $230,070,246$222,407,700
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $58,148,883$51,756,270
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $414,861,449$396,166,020
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $387,467,677$441,450,187
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $150,799,228$150,453,374
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $538,266,905$591,903,561
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $953,128,354$988,069,581
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $591,903,561 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$460,330,866
XI-2 Total expenses$464,670,221
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$4,339,355
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$538,266,905
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$52,955,896
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$5,020,115
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$591,903,561

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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