2026 Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southeast Region
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools to find the best for music theory & composition students.
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Best Schools for Music Theory & Composition in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall music theory & composition education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Music Theory & Composition
Florida State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best music theory & composition schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 15 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $26,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,992 to complete this degree.
Get the full music theory & composition details for Florida State University
Students looking for a strong music theory & composition program will find one at University Of Miami, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 25 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music theory & composition program make about $23,991 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,998.
Get the full music theory & composition details for University Of Miami
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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 · 35 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.