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2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

11 Ranked Colleges
328 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 1,175 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 390th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 328 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in music theory and composition. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music theory and composition programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The music composition school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in California

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,891 for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of California - Los Angeles

2
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 12 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

USC also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern California is $17,345 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at USC

3

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #3 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

UCSB also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $11,606 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of California - Santa Barbara

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $12,049 for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of California - Santa Cruz

5
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Redlands landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Redlands is a small school located in Redlands, California that handed out 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Redlands, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $22,360 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Redlands

6
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Biola University is a medium-sized school located in La Mirada, California that handed out 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

Biola not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $26,419 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Biola University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Biola University

7
SFCM crest
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, California

San Francisco Conservatory of Music landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SFCM is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFCM, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFCM is $38,771 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SFCM Music Theory & Composition Report

8
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Chapman, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $32,071 for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Chapman.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Chapman University

9
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. CalArts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

CalArts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California Institute of the Arts is $51,512 for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at CalArts

10
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $32,975 for California Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Academy of Art University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Academy of Art University Music Theory & Composition Report

11
LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

Los Angeles Film School came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. LA Film School is a medium-sized school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 181 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

LA Film School did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $33,225 for california music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend LA Film School.

Full LA Film School Music Theory & Composition Report

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Notes and References

References

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