by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 13 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 66 doctor's degrees in music theory & composition during the <nil> academic year.
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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.
The music composition doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality music composition program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a doctor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for music theory & composition students working on their doctor's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.
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.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in music theory & composition.
It's hard to beat University of Michigan - Ann Arbor if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in music theory & composition. U-M is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Every student who is interested in a doctor's degree in music theory & composition has to take a look at University of Southern California. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Southern California
University of Rochester is a good option for students interested in a doctor's degree in music theory & composition. Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, University of Rochester is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Rochester
Michigan State University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a doctor's degree in music theory & composition. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from Michigan State University
Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from Johns Hopkins University
U Miami is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Coral Gables.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Miami
Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from Columbia University in the City of New York
Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from Florida State University
UO is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Eugene.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Oregon
UHart is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of West Hartford.More information about a doctorate in music theory & composition from University of Hartford
View the Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 17 majors within the Music area of study, Music Theory & Composition has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Music | 567 |
| Music Performance | 458 |
| Music Pedagogy | 61 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 52 |
| Musicology & Ethnomusicology | 35 |
| Conducting | 35 |
| Stringed Instruments | 23 |
| Other Music | 23 |
| Voice Performance | 13 |
| Music History | 8 |
