2026 Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in Massachusetts
Music Theory & Composition is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for music theory & composition students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Music Theory & Composition in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music theory & composition education in Massachusetts.
Top Schools in Music Theory & Composition
Berklee College Of Music is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in music theory & composition. Berklee College Of Music is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 234 music theory & composition degrees were awarded at Berklee College Of Music in the most recent year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from Berklee College Of Music earn around $21,670 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,979.
More information about a degree in music theory & composition from Berklee College Of Music
A rank of #2 makes The New England Conservatory Of Music one of the top schools for music theory & composition. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 music theory & composition degrees were awarded at The New England Conservatory Of Music in the most recent year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from The New England Conservatory Of Music earn around $24,499 in the first couple years of their career. The New England Conservatory Of Music graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans.
Get the full music theory & composition details for The New England Conservatory Of Music
More Music Theory & Composition Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 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.
