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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

30 Ranked Colleges
70 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 Great Lakes region, there were 144 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 70 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 30 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.

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 the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $6,452 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, 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 97%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 4 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,028 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, 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 96%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at U-M

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,351 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, 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.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Music Theory & Composition Report

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $13,982 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 94%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Ohio State

#5

Lawrence University

Appleton, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lawrence University landed the #5 spot on the list. Lawrence U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lawrence U also took the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lawrence U is $17,791 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 full report on Music Theory & Composition at Lawrence U

#6

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Wheaton College Illinois has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $19,691 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, 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 90%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Music Theory & Composition Report

#7

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,185 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Ball State

#8

Oberlin College

Oberlin, Ohio
#3 in overall quality

Oberlin College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Oberlin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Oberlin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oberlin is $22,507 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

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. The low 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 more about Music Theory & Composition at Oberlin College

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Central Michigan University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,591 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Central Michigan.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Central Michigan University

#10

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $20,696 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Michigan State

#11

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,841 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Olivet Nazarene

#12

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

With a ranking of #12, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $13,786 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Youngstown State University

#13

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Taylor University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Taylor University is located in Upland, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Taylor U has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Taylor U is $22,891 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Music Theory & Composition at Taylor University

#14

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#15 in overall quality

Cedarville University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Cedarville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedarville, Ohio. It awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Cedarville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cedarville University is $19,267 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 88%.

Full Cedarville Music Theory & Composition Report

#15

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Elmhurst University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Elmhurst is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 3 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $19,703 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Elmhurst

#13 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $20,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UC

#17

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Valparaiso University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Valpo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Valpo is $17,661 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Valparaiso University Music Theory & Composition Report

#18

The College of Wooster

Wooster, Ohio
#12 in overall quality

The College of Wooster ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The College of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wooster, Ohio. It awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Wooster College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wooster College is $20,798 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 The College of Wooster Music Theory & Composition Report

#25 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,127 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Baldwin Wallace University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Berea, Ohio 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.

Baldwin Wallace College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Baldwin Wallace University is $21,118 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Baldwin Wallace University Music Theory & Composition Report

#21

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#20 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, WMU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $19,841 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full WMU Music Theory & Composition Report

#22

Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

Madonna University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Madonna is located in Livonia, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Madonna is $16,099 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Madonna

#23

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Marion, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana Wesleyan University is $18,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at IWU

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $18,630 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Akron Main Campus

#23 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $22,337 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at OHIO Athens

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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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