PrivateUrbanCurtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Among the most selective in the Northeast — close-knit campus
Curtis Institute of Music is a private urban institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Admission is competitive.
A small campus of 106 undergraduates with a 2:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.
95% of students graduate within four years.
More About This School
History & Fun Facts
- •The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania chartered the Curtis Institute on April 18, 1924, which opened October 1925 in three mansions at 1727 and 1720 Locust Street and 235 South 18th Street.
- •Both the Curtis Institute and the Settlement Music School shared a building at Queen Street in South Philadelphia for the first year.
- •Bok established the institute to train talented musicians for professional careers and to teach music for its own sake and not as a means to another end.
- •Tuition was five hundred dollars, and the school opened with 357 students.
Source: Wikipedia
Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
100.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
19.4%/yr
Programs (4)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
97%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
0
Peer Average
3
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from PA state average + large city premium
Climate (School Year)
Nearest Cities
Getting There
Nearest Airports
Distance to Cities
Visit Planning
Nearby Hotels
Plan Your Visit
Days out near Philadelphia
NewTwo or three colleges you can see in one day around Philadelphia 2, from real bookable tour times.
- DeSales University · Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPublic and private17 days
- Bryn Athyn College of the New Church · Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaVery small colleges13 days