Peabody Acceptance Rate: What the Data Actually Shows
Peabody does not publish an official acceptance rate, and it has no separate federal IPEDS record — it reports under Johns Hopkins University. The most defensible undergraduate figure comes from the school-reported Peterson’s database: about 52%, roughly 367 admitted from 711 undergraduate applicants (Peterson's). Note this is the Conservatory undergraduate rate — not Johns Hopkins overall (which is ~6%).
Read that 52% with two things in mind:
- It’s not a federal statistic. Because Peabody reports under JHU, no official IPEDS rate exists for the Conservatory alone; treat 52% as a well-sourced estimate, not a guarantee.
- Piano is audition-gated and more selective. The conservatory-wide figure spans every instrument; piano studios draw a deep applicant pool, so a pianist’s real odds run below the headline.
“Peabody” can mean the whole Peabody Institute (which includes a Preparatory division open to the community) or the degree-granting Conservatory. Acceptance-rate and audition information here refers to the Conservatory’s undergraduate program.
What Peabody Costs — and Its No-Loan Aid Policy
Undergraduate tuition and fees run about $66,670 (2024–25), with a total cost of attendance near $86,800 including room and board (Peterson's).
What sets Peabody apart is aid. Beginning in fall 2024, Peabody committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need and eliminating loans from aid packages for domestic undergraduates — by its own account the largest US conservatory to do so (JHU Hub). For a family that qualifies, that can dramatically change the real cost of a Peabody degree.
Peabody Piano Audition Requirements
Peabody uses a prescreening recording followed by a live audition. The undergraduate piano audition is a substantial program spanning three style periods, with all works performed in their entirety.
| Stage | What's required (undergraduate piano) |
|---|---|
| Prescreening | Required video: a Romantic solo work of roughly 10 minutes or more (shorter works may be combined) |
| Baroque | A prelude and fugue (or other work containing a fugue) by J.S. Bach |
| Classical | A complete sonata by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert (Beethoven Op. 49 not accepted) |
| Romantic | A major 19th-century solo work (e.g., a Chopin Ballade/Scherzo, complete Brahms Op. 118/119, or Liszt) |
| Virtuosic etude | One virtuosic étude |
| Program length / deadline | Live program of ~50–60 minutes; regular deadline December 1 (Early Decision November 1) |
Repertoire and audition dates change year to year — always confirm the current cycle on the school's official audition pages before preparing.
Who Teaches Piano at Peabody
Peabody’s piano faculty includes Boris Slutsky, who returned in 2024 as Distinguished Professor of Piano; Steinway Artist Marina Lomazov, a graduate of Juilliard and Eastman; and concert pianists Benjamin Pasternack and Alexander Shtarkman (Peabody Piano). Confirm the current studio roster on Peabody’s site before choosing a teacher to name in your application.
Where Peabody Fits Among Top Conservatories
Peabody is more accessible on paper than the most selective conservatories, but its combination of a Johns Hopkins affiliation, formal dual-degree pathways with JHU’s arts & sciences and engineering schools, and a no-loan aid policy makes it a distinctive option for pianists who want academic breadth without leaving a serious conservatory. Founded in 1857, it is among the oldest conservatories in the country. See how it stacks up in our top-12 conservatory acceptance-rate comparison, or compare aid in our scholarships & financial aid guide.
Thinking About Peabody? Let’s Map Your Audition.
Between the prescreening Romantic work and a 50–60 minute live program, Peabody rewards smart repertoire planning. Get guidance on building a program that shows your range.
Book Free EvaluationFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Peabody Conservatory acceptance rate?
Peabody does not publish an official rate and has no separate federal IPEDS record, since it reports under Johns Hopkins University. The best-sourced undergraduate figure is about 52% — roughly 367 admitted from 711 applicants, per the school-reported Peterson's database. This is the Conservatory undergraduate rate, not Johns Hopkins overall (~6%), and piano admission is more competitive than the conservatory-wide figure. Source: petersons.com
Is Peabody's financial aid really that good?
Beginning in fall 2024, Peabody committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need and eliminating loans from aid packages for domestic undergraduates — by its own account the largest US conservatory to do so. Published undergraduate tuition and fees are about $66,670 (2024-25), with total cost of attendance near $86,800, but qualifying families can pay substantially less. Source: hub.jhu.edu
What are the Peabody piano audition requirements?
Peabody requires a prescreening video of a Romantic solo work of roughly 10 minutes or more, followed by a live program of about 50-60 minutes spanning three style periods: a Bach prelude and fugue, a complete Classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert; Op. 49 not accepted), a major 19th-century Romantic work, and one virtuosic etude. The regular application deadline is December 1. Source: peabody.jhu.edu
Who teaches piano at Peabody?
The piano faculty includes Boris Slutsky (Distinguished Professor of Piano, returned in 2024), Steinway Artist Marina Lomazov, and concert pianists Benjamin Pasternack and Alexander Shtarkman, among others. Source: peabody.jhu.edu
Sources & References
- Undergraduate acceptance rate (~52%; ~367 of 711) and enrollment: Peterson’s — Peabody Conservatory (school-reported). Peabody has no separate federal IPEDS record; it reports under Johns Hopkins University.
- Full-need, no-loan aid policy (from fall 2024): JHU Hub and Peabody Magazine.
- Piano audition repertoire and process: Peabody — Audition Repertoire & Requirements.
- Piano faculty and program: Peabody — Piano.