by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
In 2020-2021, music theory and composition was the 390th most popular major nationwide with 1,175 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 58 over the prior year, a growth of 4.9%.
Our 2023 Best Music Theory & Composition Schools ranking analyzes 111 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for music theory and composition students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of music composition programs later in this article.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in music theory and composition is talking to others to convey information effectively. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most music composition degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic music theory and composition program qualifications, to serve in some music composition careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different music composition degree levels. You can get anything from a in music theory and composition to the highest music composition degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common music composition degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to music composition, with approximately 27.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for music composition workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 35.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 16.8% |
| Some College Courses | 9.0% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 5.5% |
Most workers in music composition have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in music theory and composition have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which music composition career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your music composition degree? Music Theory & Composition careers are expected to grow 9.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to music theory and composition.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 79,100 | 5.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for music composition graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for music theory and composition graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers music composition grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $59,790 |
With over 344 different music composition degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased music composition school rankings to help you with this.
Music Theory & Composition is one of 16 different types of Music programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 11,232 |
| Music Performance | 7,335 |
| Music Technology | 1,788 |
| Other Music | 1,117 |
| Voice Performance | 656 |
