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2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region

13 Ranked Colleges
115 Degrees Awarded
$40,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master's in the Middle Atlantic Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Middle Atlantic Region” 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.

Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 228 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 115 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,887 and $46,998 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Middle Atlantic Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region master’s degree music composition students.

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Temple University landed the #1 spot on the list. Temple is a large public school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple University are $24,236, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Temple University

#2

Rider University

Lawrenceville, New Jersey
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rider University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Rider is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. It awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Rider also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rider are $20,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Rider University Music Theory & Composition Report

#3

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University at Buffalo. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. University at Buffalo is a large school located in Buffalo, New York that handed out 1 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University at Buffalo, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028.

Full University at Buffalo Music Theory & Composition Report

#4

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brooklyn College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Brooklyn College also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Brooklyn College Music Theory & Composition Report

#5

New York University

New York, New York
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NYU, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at New York University are $36,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at New York University

#6

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
#9 in overall quality

Syracuse University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Syracuse University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Syracuse, New York. It awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Syracuse, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Syracuse are $41,714, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Syracuse

#7

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

Carnegie Mellon University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon are $47,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Carnegie Mellon

#8

Manhattan School of Music

New York, New York
#7 in overall quality

Manhattan School of Music did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 7 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region master’s degree music composition students list, Manhattan School of Music has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Manhattan School of Music are $49,270.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music

#9

Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Catholic University of America did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CUA, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Catholic University of America are $50,340.

Full CUA Music Theory & Composition Report

#10

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York
#2 in overall quality

University of Rochester came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Rochester, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

University of Rochester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Rochester are $50,505, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Rochester Music Theory & Composition Report

#11

The New School

New York, New York
#8 in overall quality

The New School ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New School University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The New School are $47,642, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at New School University

#12

The Juilliard School

New York, New York
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, The Juilliard School did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 6 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Juilliard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The Juilliard School are $49,260, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at The Juilliard School

#13

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#1 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #13. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Johns Hopkins

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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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