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2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

13 Ranked Colleges
56 Degrees Awarded
$26,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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.

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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 56 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree music composition students with aid.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Michigan State University 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.

Michigan State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Michigan State

#3

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the #3 spot on the list. 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.

Youngstown State University also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Youngstown State University

#4

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #4 spot on the list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Central Michigan

#5

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #5 spot on the list. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.

Full Western Michigan University Music Theory & Composition Report

#6 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BGSU also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. 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 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#7

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern

#10 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 10 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. 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.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at UC

#12 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree music composition students with aid list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Akron Main Campus

#8 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also took the #8 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Music Theory & Composition Report

#12

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Roosevelt is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt University are $21,605.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Roosevelt University

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

DePaul University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at DePaul

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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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