2023 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
197
Ranked Colleges
1,175
Degrees Awarded
$36,900
Avg Cost*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Music Theory & Composition is the 390th most popular major in the country with 1,175 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” ranking analyzed 197 colleges that offered a degree in music theory and composition. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their music theory and composition program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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.
Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
Out of the 197 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Angeles College of Music landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 21 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Los Angeles College of Music
Out of the 197 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Angeles Film School landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Hollywood, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 181 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at LA Film School
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The New England Conservatory of Music. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. The New England Conservatory of Music is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 24 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at The New England Conservatory of Music
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of the Arts. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major. CalArts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California Institute of the Arts Music Theory & Composition Report
Out of the 197 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Berklee College of Music landed the #5 spot on the list. Berklee College of Music is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 169 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Berklee College of Music
Longy School of Music of Bard College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Longy School of Music of Bard College Music Theory & Composition Report
Musicians Institute came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Musicians Institute is a small school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 18 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Musicians Institute Music Theory & Composition Report
Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music is a small school located in San Juan, that handed out 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Vermont College of Fine Arts landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Vermont College of Fine Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Montpelier, Vermont. It awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Vermont College of Fine Arts Music Theory & Composition Report
The Juilliard School landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Juilliard
Cleveland Institute of Music ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. This small school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Cleveland Institute of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at SFCM
DigiPen Institute of Technology ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Redmond, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at DigiPen Institute of Technology
With a ranking of #14, Manhattan School of Music did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music
Purchase College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Purchase College is a public institution located in Purchase, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Purchase College
With a ranking of #16, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. This medium-sized school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University
Lawrence University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Lawrence U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Lawrence U
Western Connecticut State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. WestConn is a small public school situated in Danbury, Connecticut. It awarded 17 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Western Connecticut State University Music Theory & Composition Report
Lewis & Clark College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #19. Lewis & Clark College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 9 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Lewis and Clark College Music Theory & Composition Report
SUNY Fredonia did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Fredonia, New York, and it awarded 9 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at SUNY Fredonia
Five Towns College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Five Towns College is a small private for-profit school situated in Dix Hills, New York. It awarded 1 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Five Towns College Music Theory & Composition Report
Houghton College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Houghton College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houghton, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Houghton College
Hardin - Simmons University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #23. Hardin - Simmons University is located in Abilene, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Full Hardin - Simmons University Music Theory & Composition Report
Oakwood University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Oakwood University is located in Huntsville, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Oakwood
Ithaca College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Ithaca is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 11 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Ithaca College
college factual
