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2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

13 Ranked Colleges
82 Degrees Awarded
$25,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Music Theory & Composition is the 415th most popular major in the country with 1,117 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 253 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 82 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools

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 a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,254 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCLA.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The 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 California - Los Angeles Music Theory & Composition Report

#2

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 3 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $11,895 for California Bachelor’s Degree 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 low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 more about Music Theory & Composition at UCSB

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $16,252 for California Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Southern California.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full USC Music Theory & Composition Report

#4

University of Redlands

Redlands, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Redlands. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Redlands, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

University of Redlands not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $22,240 for California Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Redlands.

The low 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%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Redlands

#5

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of the Pacific. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific also took the #10 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of the Pacific is $23,385 for California Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Pacific

#6

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California
#5 in overall quality

Pepperdine University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Malibu, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Pepperdine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $29,593 for California Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pepperdine.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Pepperdine Music Theory & Composition Report

#7

Biola University

La Mirada, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Biola University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. La Mirada, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Biola did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Biola is $25,855 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low 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 Biola Music Theory & Composition Report

#8

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#11 in overall quality

Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. PLNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PLNU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $24,654 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Point Loma Nazarene University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at PLNU

#9

Chapman University

Orange, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Chapman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Chapman also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Chapman is $31,826 for california bachelor’s degree 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. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Chapman University Music Theory & Composition Report

#10

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

San Francisco Conservatory of Music came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

SFCM also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $29,980 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SFCM.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at SFCM

#11

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, California Institute of the Arts did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. California Institute of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valencia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CalArts, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Institute of the Arts is $42,784 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive 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.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at CalArts

#12

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#12 in overall quality

Academy of Art University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 18 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Academy of Art University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $34,125 for California Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Academy of Art University.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University

#13

Los Angeles Film School

Hollywood, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Los Angeles Film School did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. LA Film School is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 6 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

LA Film School not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Film School is $31,259 for california bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at LA Film School

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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