by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study music theory and composition. at the Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 43 colleges that serve veteran music theory and composition. students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Explore the leading music theory and composition. colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked University of Michigan-Ann Arbor the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in music theory and composition.. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition. at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Veteran students seeking a strong music theory and composition. program will find one at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, which ranked #2. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the music theory and composition. program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
University of Kentucky came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full music theory and composition. report for University of Kentucky
Ohio University-Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. It scores 84.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition. report for Ohio University-Main Campus
Florida State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing music theory and composition., landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 82.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition. at Florida State University
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #6 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music theory and composition. at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. It scores 77.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Missouri-Kansas City came in at #8 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. University of Missouri-Kansas City scores 77.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at University of Missouri-Kansas City
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #9 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. Carnegie Mellon University scores 77.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.5, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Carnegie Mellon University
Michigan State University placed #10 among the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. It scores 76.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Michigan State University
Academy of Art University came in at #11 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. Academy of Art University scores 76.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 96.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Academy of Art University
Temple University landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition.. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about music theory and composition. at Temple University
Arizona State University Campus Immersion placed #13 among the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. It scores 76.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the music theory and composition. program at Arizona State University Campus Immersion
CUNY Brooklyn College placed #14 among the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. It scores 75.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music theory and composition. at CUNY Brooklyn College
Oklahoma City University came in at #15 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. It scores 75.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 80.8, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the music theory and composition. program at Oklahoma City University
University of Miami came in at #16 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. University of Miami scores 74.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.3, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at University of Miami
Shenandoah University came in at #17 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. Shenandoah University scores 74.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 75.3, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Shenandoah University
Texas Christian University came in at #18 for veteran music theory and composition. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 47.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Texas Christian University
Johns Hopkins University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.8, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition. report for Johns Hopkins University
Brigham Young University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition. report for Brigham Young University
University of Redlands landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition.. The school's overall veterans score is 73.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 47.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the music theory and composition. program at University of Redlands
Syracuse University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 43.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full music theory and composition. report for Syracuse University
Butler University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition.. It scores 73.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 59.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition. report for Butler University
Southern Methodist University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 42.1, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition. program at Southern Methodist University
University of Rochester ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 42.1, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition. report for University of Rochester
Not far behind, these music theory and composition. colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying music theory and composition.: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
