2023 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k)
109
Ranked Colleges
1,175
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 1,175 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 390th most popular in the United States.
This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 109 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $917 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Yale University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. It costs about $3,083 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Yale.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Yale University Music Theory & Composition Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 6 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia University in the City of New York is $4,699 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Columbia
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 13 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $5,670 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 1.3% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at U-M
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Vanderbilt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $4,652 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Vanderbilt
Rice University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Rice is $1,340 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Full Rice University Music Theory & Composition Report
Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Johns Hopkins, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Johns Hopkins is $4,859 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Johns Hopkins
Florida State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $7,349 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Florida State University
Brooklyn College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brooklyn College is a public institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,105 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brooklyn College.
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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,891 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 California - Los Angeles Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 5 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $6,399 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UW Seattle Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
UIUC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UIUC Music Theory & Composition Report
Oberlin College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Oberlin College is a small school located in Oberlin, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, Oberlin has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin is $13,745 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oberlin Music Theory & Composition Report
University of North Texas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. UNT is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 9 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UNT is $6,401 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 University of North Texas Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #15, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $13,608 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Carnegie Mellon University Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Georgia landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UGA is $10,688 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UGA Music Theory & Composition Report
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, UT Austin has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $14,977 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Full UT Austin Music Theory & Composition Report
Boston University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, Boston U has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Boston U is $11,782 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Boston University
Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,333 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BYU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brigham Young University - Provo
University of Rochester landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Rochester is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 11 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Rochester, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” ranking. It costs about $17,764 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Rochester.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Rochester Music Theory & Composition Report
El Centro College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,619 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend El Centro College.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at El Centro College
St Olaf College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,138 for music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Olaf.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at St Olaf College
Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,628 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at ASU - Tempe
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Michigan State Music Theory & Composition Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,581 for Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Ohio State
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