2023 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in California
11
Ranked Colleges
328
Degrees Awarded
$25,500
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Music Theory & Composition is the 390th most popular major in the country with 1,175 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across California, there were 328 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in music theory and composition. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music theory and composition programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
UCLA also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $9,037 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UCLA Music Theory & Composition Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,287 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern California.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Southern California Music Theory & Composition Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,568 for california music composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCSB.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of California - Santa Barbara
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $11,038 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Santa Cruz Music Theory & Composition Report
Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Redlands landed the #5 spot on the list. Redlands, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
University of Redlands also took the #6 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $20,409 for california music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Redlands Music Theory & Composition Report
Biola University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in La Mirada, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
Biola not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $27,024 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Biola University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Biola
San Francisco Conservatory of Music came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
SFCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SFCM is $31,529 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at SFCM
Chapman University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Orange, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chapman, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chapman University is $34,946 for california music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Chapman
Academy of Art University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Academy of Art University also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Academy of Art University is $33,484 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University
California Institute of the Arts ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CalArts is $52,801 for California Music Composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full California Institute of the Arts Music Theory & Composition Report
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