2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k)
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 310 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 52 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.
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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 7 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Yale also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, Rice has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #4 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins University is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 12 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Johns Hopkins also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.
Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UW Seattle
Brooklyn College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College
Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Florida State University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Florida State also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707.
Boston University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston U, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Boston University
With a ranking of #10, University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Greensboro are $21,918, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Kentucky ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UK, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kentucky are $33,216.
With a ranking of #12, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UMKC are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Music Theory & Composition Report
Central Michigan University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Central Michigan University Music Theory & Composition Report
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Carnegie Mellon also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon are $47,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Oregon ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oregon are $29,991.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Oregon
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Youngstown State University
University of Southern California landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
USC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Southern California
With a ranking of #19, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 10 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.
Full Michigan State University Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Central Oklahoma landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, and it awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Oklahoma are $17,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Central Oklahoma Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Rochester ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Rochester is located in Rochester, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, University of Rochester has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Rochester are $50,505, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Rochester
University at Buffalo ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028.
Full University at Buffalo Music Theory & Composition Report
Manhattan School of Music came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Manhattan School of Music is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Manhattan School of Music did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Manhattan School of Music are $49,270, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #25, Brandeis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Brandeis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Waltham, Massachusetts. It awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis University are $52,060, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brandeis University
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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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