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2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

30 Ranked Colleges
70 Degrees Awarded
$22,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” 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 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 $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 30 colleges that offered a degree in music theory and composition. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music theory and composition programs and 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.

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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

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 $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,784 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northwestern University.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Northwestern University Music Theory & Composition Report

#2 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 $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $18,039 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full U-M Music Theory & Composition Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois 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 $75-$110k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,998 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UIUC.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

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

#4

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Michigan University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 1 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 $75-$110k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,894 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

Full Central Michigan University Music Theory & Composition Report

#5

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wheaton College Illinois. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $24,299 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Wheaton College Illinois

#6

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $15,719 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

#7

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#16 in overall quality

Ball 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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $19,446 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Ball State

#8

Lawrence University

Appleton, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

Lawrence University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. Lawrence U is a small school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Lawrence U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lawrence U is $24,257 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Lawrence U

#14 in overall quality

Ohio 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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 1 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $21,364 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Ohio State

#10

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 3 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $25,389 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

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

#11

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also took the #17 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,306 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k 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 more about Music Theory & Composition at Olivet Nazarene

#12

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k list, Valpo has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,211 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Valparaiso University.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Valpo

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. 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. It costs about $20,277 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend BGSU.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Music Theory & Composition Report

#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 $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #14. Cedarville University is located in Cedarville, Ohio 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 $75-$110k list, Cedarville has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cedarville University is $22,791 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Cedarville University

#10 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baldwin Wallace College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $24,577 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Baldwin Wallace University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, 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 85%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Baldwin Wallace University

#16

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Taylor University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Upland, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k 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. It costs about $25,559 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Taylor University.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Taylor University

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s music composition degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,366 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UC.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UC

#18

Oberlin College

Oberlin, Ohio
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Oberlin College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Oberlin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Oberlin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oberlin is $26,471 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Full Oberlin Music Theory & Composition Report

#19

Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

Madonna University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Livonia, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $20,848 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Madonna University.

Full Madonna Music Theory & Composition Report

#20

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#20 in overall quality

Western Michigan University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $23,352 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Western Michigan University Music Theory & Composition Report

#21

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 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. It costs about $23,604 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Elmhurst.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Elmhurst University

#22

The College of Wooster

Wooster, Ohio
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, The College of Wooster did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This small school is located in Wooster, Ohio, and 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 $75-$110k 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. It costs about $25,786 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend The College of Wooster.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Wooster College

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 2 bachelors’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $20,582 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

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

#24

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana

With a ranking of #24, 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 $75-$110k list. Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for IWU is $23,010 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Indiana Wesleyan University

#23 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music composition students 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. It costs about $25,039 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend OHIO Athens.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Ohio University - Athens Campus

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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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