Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to The Juilliard School

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to The Juilliard School that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

The Juilliard School

New York, New York · Private Nonprofit

$43,571
Net Price
$37,827
Median Earnings (10yr)
9.2%
Acceptance Rate
91.3%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to The Juilliard School

The Juilliard School posts an average net price of $43,571 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with The Juilliard School across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $29,764, achieved by Stanford University at $13,807. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above The Juilliard School’s $37,827, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $103,662.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$29,764
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
52%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Northeastern University Oakl $93k 2. University of Southern Calif $92k 3. Claremont McKenna College $105k 4. Carnegie Mellon University $115k 5. Cornell University $104k Compared to The Juilliard School: $38k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Northeastern University Oakland
Oakland, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$25,181 -$18,390 $92,538 N/A 52%
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$32,740 -$10,831 $92,498 91.9% 49%
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$28,849 -$14,722 $104,736 93.3% 48%
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$31,944 -$11,627 $114,862 93.3% 46%
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$28,690 -$14,881 $104,043 95.3% 46%
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$35,924 -$7,647 $138,687 92.8% 45%
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$30,915 -$12,656 $92,538 90.5% 45%
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$13,807 -$29,764 $124,080 92.4% 43%
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$40,815 -$2,756 $103,494 94.5% 43%
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$26,780 -$16,791 $99,980 96.0% 43%
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$41,704 -$1,867 $103,937 90.9% 42%
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$29,612 -$13,959 $97,800 96.3% 42%
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$29,519 -$14,052 $97,434 95.8% 42%
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$23,781 -$19,790 $94,810 94.4% 42%
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$25,184 -$18,387 $93,487 95.7% 42%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than The Juilliard School are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to The Juilliard School?
We found 15 schools similar to The Juilliard School that cost less. The closest match is Northeastern University Oakland with 52% similarity and a net price of $25,181.
What is the ROI of attending The Juilliard School?
The Juilliard School has an average net price of $43,571. Former students earn a median of $37,827 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 0.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than The Juilliard School for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Northeastern University Oakland costs $25,181 (saving $18,390) with median earnings of $92,538.
What is the cheapest alternative to The Juilliard School?
The most affordable similar school is Stanford University at $13,807, saving $29,764 compared to The Juilliard School. It has a 43% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $103,662 compared to The Juilliard School's $37,827. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.