2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Far Western Region
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools to find the best return on investment for music theory & composition students.
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2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music theory & composition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
For return on investment in music theory & composition, no school beat Stanford University this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $10,492. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Barbara earned it the #2 place for music theory & composition. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $15,501. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Set against $15,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $31,000. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $50,039. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in music theory & composition will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,119 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $18,823 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University landed the #6 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $24,503. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $54,697. That is a strong return on a $24,503 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Central Washington University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $48,556. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Central Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Portland State University placed #8 among the best values for music theory & composition. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,846 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $17,638. That is a strong return on a $27,846 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #9 for value in music theory & composition this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $18,559. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $20,055. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $15,834 early in their careers. Set against $20,055 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
Azusa Pacific University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,458 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $22,000. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $37,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oregon placed #12 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,516. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $20,583 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $20,707. Set against $20,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Redlands came in at #13 for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $60,878. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $57,218. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Pacific placed #14 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,080. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,017 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $77,022 early in their careers. Set against $26,017 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Pacific admits about 71% of applicants.
California Baptist University placed #15 among the best values for music theory & composition. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $41,228 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $51,999 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #16 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $23,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,976 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Biola University placed #17 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Students borrow a median of $26,417 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $19,978. Set against $26,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Puget Sound placed #18 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,898. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Puget Sound earn a median of $34,408 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Los Angeles Film School earned the #19 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Hollywood, Los Angeles Film School is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $22,625. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Los Angeles Film School earn a median of $21,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt.
Academy Of Art University placed #20 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,949 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $34,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,949 median debt.
Musicians Institute placed #21 among the best values for music theory & composition. Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Hollywood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,414. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,778 ten years after entry. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music earned the #22 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory Of Music is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,150. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $32,882. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Los Angeles Music Academy came in at #23 for value in music theory & composition this year. Los Angeles Music Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $29,190 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $37,296. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $24,059. Set against $37,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
California Institute Of The Arts earned the #24 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,996 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $23,125. Music Theory & Composition graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $18,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. California Institute Of The Arts admits about 32% of applicants.
Chapman University came in at #25 for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,984 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $14,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
