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2022 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

13 Ranked Colleges
60 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest 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. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that 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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 60 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 13 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Rice University is $7,318 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Rice

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $15,757 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UT Austin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of North Texas is located in Denton, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNT is $15,377 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of North Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,033 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at ASU - Tempe

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Oklahoma. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Central Oklahoma is a public institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCO, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCO is $18,693 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at UCO

#6

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

University of Tulsa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Tulsa is $19,396 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Tulsa

#7

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ORU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $25,145 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend ORU.

Full ORU Music Theory & Composition Report

#8

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #8, Oklahoma City University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it awarded 5 ’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

OCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $22,989 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend OCU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. 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 OCU Music Theory & Composition Report

#9

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Southwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Georgetown, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern also took the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern University is $20,394 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Southwestern

Southern Methodist University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $31,813 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SMU.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Southern Methodist University Music Theory & Composition Report

#11

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, Texas

Dallas Baptist University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

DBU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DBU is $26,055 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full DBU Music Theory & Composition Report

#12

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

TCU also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $29,929 for Southwest Region Music Composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas Christian University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full Texas Christian University Music Theory & Composition Report

#13

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

Baylor University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Baylor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $31,343 for southwest region music composition students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Baylor University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Baylor

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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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