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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

8 Ranked Colleges
53 Degrees Awarded
$37,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 1,117 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 415th most popular in the United States.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 295 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 53 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 8 colleges that offer a degree in music theory and composition. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music theory and composition programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools

The music composition school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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 a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 8 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW Seattle Music Theory & Composition Report

#2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Southern California

#3

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oregon. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UO is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UO not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Oregon

#4

University of Redlands

Redlands, California

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Redlands landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Redlands did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Redlands Music Theory & Composition Report

#5

Mills College

Oakland, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mills College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Mills not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mills College are $36,263, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Mills Music Theory & Composition Report

#6

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

San Francisco, California
#2 in overall quality

San Francisco Conservatory of Music did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

SFCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFCM are $49,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at San Francisco Conservatory of Music

#7

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
#5 in overall quality

California Institute of the Arts ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Valencia, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

CalArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California Institute of the Arts Music Theory & Composition Report

#8

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Academy of Art University Music Theory & Composition Report

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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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