2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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” ranking analyzed 52 colleges that offered a degree in music theory and composition. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music theory and composition programs, but they also 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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” 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
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma City University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at OCU are $13,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Oklahoma City University
Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Oklahoma. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Edmond, Oklahoma, this fairly large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Oklahoma are $17,913.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Central Oklahoma
Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees 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
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Michigan University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
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
University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are $21,918, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Belmont University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Belmont are $24,260, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Florida State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Florida State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Florida State
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 1 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 University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Akron Main Campus
DePaul University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Temple University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Temple University is a public institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #14, University of Redlands did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. University of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution located in Redlands, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Redlands are $22,852, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Redlands Music Theory & Composition Report
University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 5 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 University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.
Kent State University at Kent came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s 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 full report on Music Theory & Composition at Kent State
Rider University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Rider is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Rider are $20,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Rider University
University at Buffalo came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University at Buffalo
With a ranking of #19, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt University are $21,605, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Roosevelt University
With a ranking of #20, Texas Christian University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
TCU also took the #11 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 Texas Christian University are $32,268.
With a ranking of #21, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus 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.
UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Oregon did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #22. University of Oregon 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.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Oregon
With a ranking of #23, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s list. ASU - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #24. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Western Michigan University
Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 16 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 Brooklyn College are $20,952.
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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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