2023 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Great Lakes Region
47
Ranked Colleges
167
Degrees Awarded
$32,400
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 1,175 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 390th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 167 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 47 colleges that offer a degree in music theory and composition. That schools that top this list have a program in music theory and composition in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes 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.
Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region music composition students.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 47 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cleveland Institute of Music landed the #1 spot on the list. Cleveland Institute of Music is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Cleveland Institute of Music
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lawrence University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Lawrence U Music Theory & Composition Report
Out of the 47 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Baldwin Wallace University landed the #3 spot on the list. Baldwin Wallace University is located in Berea, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Baldwin Wallace College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana Wesleyan University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Marion, Indiana. It awarded 4 ’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 more about Music Theory & Composition at IWU
Out of the 47 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Butler University landed the #5 spot on the list. Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Butler University
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Wheaton College Illinois
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
Full BGSU Music Theory & Composition Report
Oberlin College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oberlin is a small school located in Oberlin, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Oberlin College Music Theory & Composition Report
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Wesleyan is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 1 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Illinois Wesleyan Music Theory & Composition Report
Roosevelt University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Roosevelt
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full UC Music Theory & Composition Report
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 10 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Western Michigan University Music Theory & Composition Report
Michigan State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Full Michigan State Music Theory & Composition Report
Capital University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Capital
Youngstown State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Full Youngstown State University Music Theory & Composition Report
Cedarville University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Cedarville University is a small school located in Cedarville, Ohio that handed out 1 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Cedarville University Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #17, Augustana College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Augustana
With a ranking of #18, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Case Western
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 13 ’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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Olivet Nazarene Music Theory & Composition Report
Columbia College Chicago landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Columbia
With a ranking of #22, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Central Michigan University
Northwestern University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern
Sinclair Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Sinclair Community College
Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Bradley