Specialized school
#1 Best small colleges in AmericaCurtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges in America#1 of 1,829
- Best test-optional colleges in America#1 of 1,481
- Best colleges for music in America#1 of 1,063
- Best small colleges in America#1 of 906
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#1 of 704
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#1 of 693
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In Pennsylvania
- Best colleges in Pennsylvania#1 of 118
- Best test-optional colleges in Pennsylvania#1 of 113
- Best small colleges in Pennsylvania#1 of 69
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Pennsylvania#1 of 62
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Pennsylvania#1 of 62
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Pennsylvania#1 of 62
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.96%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.100%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.2 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$92,076
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 106 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 52% · Women 48% |
| Total students | 159 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 96% |
| First-year retention | 100% |
| Admission rate | 5% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $150 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 1% |
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Campus life
| Setting | City |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $21,035 |
| Students per faculty member | 2 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 29%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $1,300,957IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 96% of studentsBeds ÷ undergraduates; not how many live on campus |
| Nearest major airport | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)About 6 miles away |
| Town population | 1,579,706Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | PhiladelphiaAbout 5 miles away |
| Typical weather | 35°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Phila Franklin Inst, PA |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Questions families ask
- What is Curtis Institute of Music’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 1% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How hard is it to get into Curtis Institute of Music?
- Curtis Institute of Music admitted 5% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Curtis Institute of Music’s graduates do?
- 96% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 211893
- Carnegie classification: Special focus: arts, music & design
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Curtis Institute of Music vs California College of ASU · Curtis Institute of Music vs Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
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