2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Music Theory & Composition is the 415th most popular major in the country with 1,117 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 64 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music theory and composition. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music theory and composition programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree music composition students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 20 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k)
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Music Theory & Composition Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johns Hopkins is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Johns Hopkins also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Rice also took the #7 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Rice University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s music composition degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Florida State also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Florida State
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.
University of Rochester ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Rochester not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Rochester are $50,505.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Rochester
Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
Boston U also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #9, Brandeis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brandeis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Waltham, Massachusetts. It awarded 3 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Brandeis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brandeis University are $52,060, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Brandeis University
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
USC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715.
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 3 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952.
University at Buffalo ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. University at Buffalo is a large public school situated in Buffalo, New York. It awarded 6 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
University at Buffalo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University at Buffalo
With a ranking of #13, Five Towns College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Five Towns College is a small private for-profit school situated in Dix Hills, New York. It awarded 1 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
Five Towns College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Five Towns College are $25,370, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Oregon ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. UO is a public institution located in Eugene, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UO also took the #14 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oregon are $29,991, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMKC are $26,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Missouri - Kansas City
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
UC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #17, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent State University at Kent is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Kent State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Kent State University at Kent
Manhattan School of Music did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Manhattan School of Music is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Manhattan School of Music did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Manhattan School of Music are $49,270, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music
University of Miami did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Coral Gables, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s music composition students in 2019-2020.
U Miami also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Miami are $40,220, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California Institute of the Arts came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.
CalArts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of the Arts are $53,466.
Full California Institute of the Arts Music Theory & Composition Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
Plains States
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
New England
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the New England Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
General Music
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for General Music (Income $0-$30k)
Music Performance
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Performance (Income $0-$30k)
Conducting
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Conducting (Income $0-$30k)
Voice Performance
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Voice Performance (Income $0-$30k)
Stringed Instruments
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Stringed Instruments (Income $0-$30k)
Music Technology
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Technology (Income $0-$30k)
Woodwind Instruments
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Woodwind Instruments (Income $0-$30k)
Music History
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music History (Income $0-$30k)
Musicology & Ethnomusicology
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Musicology & Ethnomusicology (Income $0-$30k)
Keyboard Instruments
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Keyboard Instruments (Income $0-$30k)
Jazz Studies
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Jazz Studies (Income $0-$30k)
Music Pedagogy
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Pedagogy (Income $0-$30k)
Brass Instruments
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Brass Instruments (Income $0-$30k)
Other Music
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Other Music (Income $0-$30k)
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor's Degree Schools
Music Theory & Composition students
Most Focused Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
Music Theory & Composition students
Most Popular Doctor's Degree Online Music Theory & Composition Schools
Music Theory & Composition students
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $0-$30k)
Music Theory & Composition students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k)
Music Theory & Composition students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income Over $110k)
Music Theory & Composition students with family income exceeding $110k
Highest Paid Doctor's Degree Music Theory & Composition Graduates
Music Theory & Composition students
Most Popular Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition
Music Theory & Composition students
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (With Aid)
Music Theory & Composition students getting aid
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k)
Music Theory & Composition students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k)
Music Theory & Composition students with family income $75-$110k
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Featured Performing Arts Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |