2026 Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Music Theory & Composition is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their music theory & composition programs.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best music theory & composition schools.
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Best Schools for Music Theory & Composition in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music theory & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Music Theory & Composition
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best school in the country for a degree in music theory & composition. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 19 music theory & composition degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $29,641 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans.
See the full music theory & composition program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for music theory & composition. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 16 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $40,570 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music theory & composition from Michigan State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the top schools for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 19 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music theory & composition program make about $22,533 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans.
See the full music theory & composition program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Students looking for a strong music theory & composition program will find one at Bowling Green State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 11 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $27,559 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music theory & composition from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Stark State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music theory & composition, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of North Canton. Stark State College awarded about 20 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,349.
Read more about the music theory & composition program at Stark State College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 48 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
