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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k)

52 Ranked Colleges
310 Degrees Awarded
$33,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master's 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 Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k” 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.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking looked at 52 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 For Those Making $75-$110k”.

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 Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Yale University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Yale University

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also took the #2 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 Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern University

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #6 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 Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full U-M Music Theory & Composition Report

#4

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brooklyn College landed the #4 spot on the list. Brooklyn College is a fairly large school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 16 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College

#5

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Rice University Music Theory & Composition Report

#6

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#5 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. Johns Hopkins is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Johns Hopkins, the school also landed 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 University are $59,425.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Johns Hopkins

#7

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#24 in overall quality

Florida State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Florida State University Music Theory & Composition Report

#22 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #22 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 Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Music Theory & Composition Report

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 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 Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan Music Theory & Composition Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Missouri - Kansas City 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMKC Music Theory & Composition Report

#11

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Greensboro are $21,918, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#12

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Youngstown State University

#13

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
#25 in overall quality

University of Kentucky landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students whose families make $75-$110k list, UK has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UK are $33,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Kentucky Music Theory & Composition Report

#14

Manhattan School of Music

New York, New York
#17 in overall quality

Manhattan School of Music landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Manhattan School of Music, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Manhattan School of Music are $49,270, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Arizona State University - Tempe

#16

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Buffalo, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University at Buffalo

With a ranking of #17, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Central Oklahoma is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at UCO

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #18. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 11 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at BGSU

#19

University of Redlands

Redlands, California

University of Redlands came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Redlands

#20

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #15 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 Michigan State are $37,056.

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

#21

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. 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.

Boston U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Boston University

With a ranking of #22, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Kent State

#23

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

With a ranking of #23, University of Oregon did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k list. UO is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oregon are $29,991, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Oregon Music Theory & Composition Report

#20 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 10 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Music Theory & Composition Report

#25

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts

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 $75-$110k list. Brandeis is located in Waltham, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

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

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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